2024-06-182023/24:UFöU1 · p.4UFöUDefence
Permanent bases with foreign troops on Swedish soil
Permanent US bases on Swedish soil under the defense cooperation agreement
What's at stake: The agreement gives the US military access to a number of Swedish bases and the right to build its own infrastructure there, raising questions about control over Swedish territory and how close the actual presence can come to a permanent base.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government's assurance against permanent foreign bases in peacetime gives sufficient protection against such bases emerging in practice, or whether clearer guarantees are needed.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion on permanent bases. The reason is that the committee, like the government, holds that, as in the other Nordic countries, there is no reason to have permanent bases on Swedish territory in peacetime, and stresses that all activity under the agreement must fully respect Swedish sovereignty and Swedish law.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 5 (V)
The reservation (V) argues that it is unclear how the agreement guarantees that permanent foreign bases will not become a reality. The reasoning is that the agreement gives the US military unimpeded access to 17 Swedish bases and the ability to store equipment and build its own infrastructure there, which the reservation says means Sweden gives up sovereignty and self-determination.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 5 by V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: MPMiljöpartiet
Ja 281–21Ja 266–36
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/20/0/4 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | Yes | Yes 93/0/0/13 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | Yes | Yes 21/0/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | Yes | Yes 13/0/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: low | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2023/24:2900 by Håkan Svenneling et al. (V) claim 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2900 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the defense cooperation agreement between Sweden and the USA. The agreement is a so-called defense cooperation agreement (DCA agreement) and regulates the specific conditions for US military presence in Sweden. It concerns, among other things, the legal status of US military personnel, suppliers, and family members. The agreement also regulates the USA's right of access to Swedish territory and the right to use certain facilities here. The Riksdag also approved the government's proposal for law amendments, which are required for Sweden to fulfill its commitments under the DCA agreement. The law amendments enter into force on the day the government determines. How the parties voted in this matter The matter was decided by several votes. On the case page for Agreement on defense cooperation with the United States of America (UFöU1) are the voting results for all votes in the matter. The combined Foreign and Defence Committee's report 2023/24:UFöU1 Agreement on defense cooperation with the United States of America
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants Sweden to introduce national legislation prohibiting the import, storage, and transit of nuclear weapons. (V) — Reservation 5
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The party programme requires that Sweden is free from foreign military bases on its own territory and the election manifesto that the host nation agreement with NATO be terminated.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that Sweden is free from foreign military bases on its own territory and the election manifesto that the host nation agreement with NATO be terminated. The counter-proposal's objection that the agreement gives foreign military unrestricted access to Swedish bases and the right to build its own infrastructure, with renouncement of sovereignty, addresses precisely this commitment. The plan furthermore requires that international cooperation be built with national self-determination as the foundation.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att Sverige är fritt från främmande militärbaser på eget territorium och valmanifestet att värdlandsavtalet med Nato rivs upp. Motförslagets invändning att avtalet ger utländsk militär obehindrad tillgång till svenska baser och rätt att bygga egen infrastruktur, med avkall på suveränitet, träffar just detta åtagande. Planen kräver dessutom att internationella samarbeten byggs med den nationella självbestämmanderätten som grund.
- free from foreign military basesdecisive»mande militärbaser på eget territorium.« (party programme ↗)“military bases on its own territory.”
- terminate the host nation agreement»Vänsterpartiet vill att Sverige river upp värdlandsavtalet med NATO.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party wants Sweden to terminate the host nation agreement with NATO.”
- national self-determination»nationella självbestämmanderätten som grund.« (party programme ↗)“national self-determination as the foundation.”
- ban on nuclear weapons on Swedish soil»Vi vill se ett förbud mot kärnvapen på svensk mark och arbetar för en« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a ban on nuclear weapons on Swedish soil and work for”
The election manifesto is the freshest expression of the party's line and states that NATO membership is the best way for Sweden's security and that now even more cooperation with security guarantees is required.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto is the freshest expression of the party's line and states that NATO membership is the best way for Sweden's security and that now even more cooperation with security guarantees is required. The counter-proposal's objection that the defence agreement involves relinquishing sovereignty and risks permanent foreign bases goes against that line. The party programme's older requirement for military non-alignment pulls in the opposite direction but is superseded by the election manifesto. The plan therefore speaks against the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet är det färskaste uttrycket för partiets linje och slår fast att Nato-medlemskapet är den bästa vägen för Sveriges säkerhet och att det nu krävs ännu mer samarbete med säkerhetsgarantier. Motförslagets invändning att försvarsavtalet innebär avkall på suveränitet och riskerar permanenta utländska baser går emot den linjen. Partiprogrammets äldre krav på militär alliansfrihet drar i motsatt riktning men är överspelat av valmanifestet. Planen talar därför mot motförslaget.
- NATO membershipdecisive»Ett svenskt medlemskap i Nato är den bästa vägen för vårt lands säkerhet och Sverige har därför lämnat in sin medlemsansökan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish NATO membership is the best way for our country's security and Sweden has therefore submitted its membership application.”
- cooperation with security guarantees»Men nu krävs ännu mer samarbete, med säkerhetsgarantier, för att trygga vår fred och frihet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“But now even more cooperation, with security guarantees, is required to secure our peace and freedom.”
- international defence partnerships»Vi vill fortsätta internationella samarbeten och utveckla cyberförsvaret och underrättelseförmågan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue international partnerships and develop cyber defence and intelligence capabilities.”
- military non-alignment»Sverige ska vara militärt alliansfritt.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be militarily non-aligned.”
The party programme explicitly demands that the lease of Swedish land to NATO and other foreign military forces shall cease, and the election manifesto wishes Sweden to retain its military non-alignment to be able to conduct an independent policy.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly demands that the lease of Swedish land to NATO and other foreign military forces shall cease, and the election manifesto wishes Sweden to retain its military non-alignment to be able to conduct an independent policy. The counter-proposal's objection that the agreement gives foreign military unobstructed access to Swedish bases and the right to build its own infrastructure hits precisely what the plan wishes to avoid. The plan's values of sovereignty and self-determination therefore bear the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver uttryckligen att uthyrningen av svensk mark till Nato och andra utländska militärstyrkor ska upphöra, och valmanifestet vill att Sverige behåller sin militära alliansfrihet för att kunna föra en självständig politik. Motförslagets invändning att avtalet ger utländsk militär obehindrad tillgång till svenska baser och rätt att bygga egen infrastruktur träffar precis det planen vill undvika. Planens värn om suveränitet och självbestämmande bär därför kravet.
- no lease of Swedish landdecisive»Uthyrningen av svensk mark till NATO och andra utländska militärstyrkor för krigsövningar ska också upphöra.« (party programme ↗)“The lease of Swedish land to NATO and other foreign military forces for military exercises shall also cease.”
- military non-alignment»Miljöpartiet de gröna värnar om den militära alliansfriheten och är därför mot anslutning till NATO.« (party programme ↗)“The Greens value military non-alignment and are therefore against NATO membership.”
- independent foreign policy»Samtidigt vill vi att Sverige behåller sin militära alliansfrihet för att kunna fortsätta arbeta mot kärnvapen, för nedrustning och kunna bedriva en självständig utrikespolitik där vi står upp för mänskliga rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, we wish Sweden to retain military non-alignment to be able to continue work against nuclear weapons, for disarmament and be able to pursue an independent foreign policy where we stand up for human rights.”
- human security first»Vi vill se en politik som sätter mänsklig säkerhet före territoriell.« (party programme ↗)“We wish to see a policy that prioritises human security before territorial.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto binds the party to armour defence quickly and forcefully, spend two per cent of GDP and complete the accession to NATO, and the party programme bases security on own defence combined with close military cooperation with democracies in our vicinity.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto binds the party to armour defence quickly and forcefully, spend two per cent of GDP and complete the accession to NATO, and the party programme bases security on own defence combined with close military cooperation with democracies in our vicinity. The counter-proposal's objection, that the agreement means a waiver of sovereignty and self-determination, is directed at exactly this deepened cooperation. The plan therefore does not support the demand, even though it emphasises that Sweden must be able to defend its own territory.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet binder partiet till att rusta försvaret snabbt och kraftfullt, satsa två procent av BNP och fullfölja inträdet i Nato, och idéprogrammet bygger säkerheten på eget försvar i kombination med nära militärt samarbete med demokratier i vår närhet. Motförslagets invändning, att avtalet innebär avkall på suveränitet och självbestämmande, riktar sig mot just detta fördjupade samarbete. Planen ger därför inte stöd för kravet, även om den understryker att Sverige måste kunna försvara sitt eget territorium.
- rearmament and NATO membershipdecisive»Sverige ska försvaras. Vi vill rusta det militära försvaret snabbt, kraftfullt och långsiktigt. Sverige behöver satsa två procent av BNP på försvaret så snart det är praktiskt möjligt och gå med i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall be defended. We want to arm the military defence quickly, forcefully and long-term. Sweden needs to spend two per cent of GDP on defence as soon as it is practically possible and join NATO.”
- complete NATO accession»Centerpartiet vill rusta försvaret, stärka Sveriges civila beredskap och fullfölja inträdet i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Centre Party wants to arm defence, strengthen Sweden's civilian preparedness and complete accession to NATO.”
- no automatic détente»Vi kan inte förutsätta att avspänning och demilitarisering ska prägla vår värld.« (party programme ↗)“We cannot assume that détente and demilitarisation will characterise our world.”
- own territorial defence»Sverige måste därför kunna försvara sitt eget territorium.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden must therefore be able to defend its own territory.”
The plan states that Sweden within NATO must particularly be able to contribute with the infrastructure needed to create strategic depth for the defense of Finland and the Baltic states, which requires access to bases, pre-positioning and allied infrastructure on Swedish soil.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that Sweden within NATO must particularly be able to contribute with the infrastructure needed to create strategic depth for the defense of Finland and the Baltic states, which requires access to bases, pre-positioning and allied infrastructure on Swedish soil. The counter-proposal's objection that this involves relinquishing sovereignty runs counter to the plan's basic view that security is created in alliances and through cooperation with other democracies.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger att Sverige inom Nato särskilt ska kunna bidra med den infrastruktur som behövs för att skapa strategiskt djup för försvaret av Finland och Baltikum, vilket förutsätter just tillgång till baser, förhandslagring och allierad infrastruktur på svensk mark. Motförslagets invändning att detta innebär avkall på suveränitet går emot planens grundsyn att trygghet skapas i allianser och genom samarbete med andra demokratier.
- Swedish infrastructure for the alliance's defensedecisive»Sverige ska inom Nato särskilt kunna bidra med den infrastruktur som behövs för att skapa ett nödvändigt och strategiskt djup för försvaret av Finland och Baltikum.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall within NATO be able to particularly contribute with the infrastructure needed to create a necessary and strategic depth for the defense of Finland and the Baltic states.”
- security in alliances»I dag skapas trygghet i allianser, inte i allianslöshet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Today, security is created in alliances, not in non-alignment.”
- cooperation with democracies»Grunden för Sveriges säkerhetspolitik ska vara samarbete med andra demokratier.« (party programme ↗)“The foundation of Sweden's security policy shall be cooperation with other democracies.”
- rejected non-alignment»Ensam är inte stark utan bara ensam.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Alone is not strong but just alone.”
The plan establishes that each state must independently be able to take a stand on participation in a joint territorial defense and that defense best safeguards people's freedom through territorial integrity and border protection.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that each state must independently be able to take a stand on participation in a joint territorial defense and that defense best safeguards people's freedom through territorial integrity and border protection. The objection that the agreement entails giving up sovereignty and self-determination links to this. The plan simultaneously affirms close NATO cooperation and a war-deterring capacity, which makes support weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att varje stat självständigt måste få ta ställning till deltagande i ett gemensamt territorialförsvar och att försvaret bäst värnar människors frihet genom territoriell integritet och gränsskydd. Invändningen att avtalet ger avkall på suveränitet och självbestämmande knyter an till detta. Planen bejakar samtidigt nära Nato-samarbete och en krigsavhållande förmåga, vilket gör stödet svagt.
- national self-determinationdecisive»självständigt få ta ställning till deltagande i ett eventuellt gemensamt territorialförsvar.« (party programme ↗)“independently be able to take a stand on participation in an eventual joint territorial defense.”
- territorial integrity»Det sker i regel bäst genom att värna territoriell integritet och utöva gränsskydd« (party programme ↗)“It occurs in rule best by safeguarding territorial integrity and exercising border protection”
- close NATO cooperation»med NATO bör, givet nämnda kriterier, vara en naturlig del av svensk säkerhetspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“with NATO should, given the mentioned criteria, be a natural part of Swedish security policy.”
- war-deterring capacity»kan verka krigsavhållande vid säkerhetspolitiska kriser« (party programme ↗)“can be war-deterring during security policy crises”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wishes to set a high ambition level for NATO membership, get maximum benefit from it and contribute concretely to the protection of the Baltic countries, and intensify military cooperation across the Atlantic.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wishes to set a high ambition level for NATO membership, get maximum benefit from it and contribute concretely to the protection of the Baltic countries, and intensify military cooperation across the Atlantic. The counter-proposal's objection to foreign troops' access to Swedish bases goes against that line. The plan at the same time values that the state's hard core is not negotiable.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill sätta en hög ambitionsnivå för medlemskapet i Nato, få ut mesta möjliga effekt av det och bidra konkret till skyddet av de baltiska länderna, samt intensifiera det militära samarbetet över Atlanten. Motförslagets invändning mot utländsk trupps tillgång till svenska baser går mot den linjen. Planen värnar samtidigt att statens hårda kärna inte är förhandlingsbar.
- full effekt av Natodecisive»Moderaterna vill sätta en hög ambitionsnivå för Sverige som blivande Natomedlem. Sverige ska som medlem i Nato vara en säkerhetsproducent i vårt närområde och även få ut mesta möjliga effekt av medlemskapet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party wishes to set a high ambition level for Sweden as a future NATO member. Sweden as a member of NATO shall be a security producer in our region and also get maximum benefit from membership.”
- aktiv säkerhetsproducent»Sverige bör bidra konkret till skyddet av våra vänner i de baltiska länderna, exempelvis genom att överväga att skicka bidrag till Natos stridsgrupper eller att delta med vårt stridsflyg i Natos incidentberedskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should contribute concretely to the protection of our friends in the Baltic countries, for example by considering sending contributions to NATO battle groups or participating with our fighter aircraft in NATO's incident preparedness.”
- fördjupat militärt samarbete»Sverige behöver intensifiera det militära samarbetet i Europa« (party programme ↗)“Sweden needs to intensify military cooperation in Europe”
- suveräniteten värnas»Statens hårda kärna får aldrig vara förhandlingsbar.« (party programme ↗)“The state's hard core must never be negotiable.”
The plan wants to prepare Sweden for the deteriorated security situation and sees bilateral agreements, cooperation and defence alliances as means to strengthen Swedish security, with deepened defence cooperation in the near region.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to prepare Sweden for the deteriorated security situation and sees bilateral agreements, cooperation and defence alliances as means to strengthen Swedish security, with deepened defence cooperation in the near region. The counter-proposal's objection that the agreement gives foreign military access and means abandoning sovereignty weighs less then; the plan's requirement for national self-determination is directed against supranationality, not against interstate defence agreements.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill rusta Sverige för det försämrade säkerhetsläget och ser bilaterala avtal, samarbeten och försvarsallianser som medel att stärka svensk säkerhet, med ett fördjupat försvarssamarbete i närområdet. Motförslagets invändning att avtalet ger utländsk militär tillgång och innebär avkall på suveräniteten väger då lättare; planens krav på nationellt självbestämmande riktas mot överstatlighet, inte mot mellanstatliga försvarsavtal.
- rearmament in new security situationdecisive»Rusta Sverige inför en ny säkerhetspolitisk situation i vårt närområde« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prepare Sweden for a new security-political situation in our near region”
- defence alliances strengthen security»Genom bilaterala- och internationella avtal, samarbeten och försvarsallianser såsom« (party programme ↗)“Through bilateral and international agreements, cooperation and defence alliances such as”
- deepened defence cooperation»Fördjupa det nordiska försvars- och säkerhetssamarbetet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deepen Nordic defence and security cooperation”
- national self-determination»Stärka det nationella självbestämmandet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen national self-determination”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:UFöU1)
- Committee report full text (HB01UFöU1)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2900 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:141 Avtal om försvarssamarbete med Amerikas förenta stater av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:2902 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:141 Avtal om försvarssamarbete med Amerikas förenta stater av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2023/24:141 — Avtal om försvarssamarbete med Amerikas förenta stater
Source: The Swedish Parliament