2023-03-222022/23:UU16 · p.1UUForeign affairs
Sweden's membership in NATO
Sweden's accession to NATO
What's at stake: The decision shapes Sweden's security policy for a long time ahead – whether the country joins a military alliance with mutual defense commitments or remains outside one. It touches on issues such as nuclear weapons and foreign bases on Swedish territory, and Sweden's freedom of action in security policy.
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 parliament should approve Sweden's accession to NATO and the related legal changes, or reject accession and remain militarily non-aligned.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee recommends that parliament approve Sweden's accession to NATO and adopt the necessary legal changes, and holds that there is no reason to have nuclear weapons or permanent foreign bases on Swedish territory in peacetime.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V, MP)
V and MP want to reject accession to NATO and for Sweden to remain militarily non-aligned, arguing that membership in a nuclear-armed alliance would worsen the security situation and draw Sweden into the wars and conflicts of NATO countries.
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: adopting the government's legislative proposal and approving what the committee proposes.
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | Yes | Yes 93/0/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 0/16/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | Yes | Yes 21/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | Yes | Yes 17/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 64/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag a) approves 1. Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty, 2. the agreement on the status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, national representatives and the organisation's international personnel, b) adopts the Government's proposal for an amendment to the Act (1976:661) on immunity and privileges in certain cases. Thereby the Riksdag grants proposition 2022/23:74 points 1-3 and rejects the motions 2022/23:2348 by Håkan Svenneling et al. (V) demands 1 in this part and 2 and 2022/23:2349 by Märta Stenevi et al. (MP) demands 1 in this part and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen a) godkänner 1. Sveriges anslutning till Nordatlantiska fördraget, 2. avtalet om status för Nordatlantiska fördragsorganisationen, nationella representanter och organisationens internationella personal, b) antar regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i lagen (1976:661) om immunitet och privilegier i vissa fall. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2022/23:74 punkterna 1-3 och avslår motionerna 2022/23:2348 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V) yrkandena 1 i denna del och 2 samt 2022/23:2349 av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1 i denna del och 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty and the agreement on the status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO. The status agreement regulates immunity and privileges for NATO and certain personnel categories. The Riksdag also approved the Government's proposal for legislative amendments. In connection with the application to NATO, changes are required in two laws. The Act on operational military support and the Act on immunity and privileges in certain cases. The amendments to the laws aim partly to facilitate Sweden's ability to request support from NATO in the form of military forces, and partly to provide NATO, the national representatives and the international personnel with the immunity and privileges required under the agreement. With regard to the decision on the Act on operational military support, the decision must be made with at least a three-fourths majority and more than half of the Riksdag members must vote in favour of the proposal. This is according to the Government of Sweden Act as the decision concerns the transfer of authority to another state. The amendments to the laws shall enter into force on the day determined by the Government.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants Sweden to remain militarily non-aligned. (V, MP) — Reservation 1
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 election manifesto is explicit: the party is opposed to ever-deeper military cooperation with NATO and wants to restore Swedish military non-alignment.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto is explicit: the party is opposed to ever-deeper military cooperation with NATO and wants to restore Swedish military non-alignment. The plan also wants Sweden to sign the nuclear weapons convention and be a voice for peace rather than increased militarisation. The counter-proposal's demand for continued military non-alignment before NATO membership is thus precisely what the plan demands.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet är uttryckligt: partiet är motståndare till ett allt djupare militärt samarbete med NATO och vill återupprätta den svenska alliansfriheten. Planen vill också att Sverige skriver under kärnvapenkonventionen och är en röst för fred snarare än ökad militarisering. Motförslagets krav på fortsatt militär alliansfrihet framför Nato-anslutning är därmed precis vad planen kräver.
- protected military non-alignmentdecisive»Därför är Vänsterpartiet motståndare till Sveriges allt djupare militära samarbete med NATO och EU, och vi är det enda riksdagspartiet som konsekvent värnar och vill återupprätta svensk alliansfrihet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore the Left Party is opposed to Sweden's ever-deeper military cooperation with NATO and the EU, and we are the only parliamentary party that consistently values and wants to restore Swedish military non-alignment.”
- peace over militarisation»Vänsterpartiet anser att Sverige ska vara en röst för fred och rättvisa, inte för ökad militarisering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party believes that Sweden should be a voice for peace and justice, not for increased militarisation.”
- sign the nuclear weapons convention»Sverige ska öka biståndet, stärka FN och skriva under kärnvapenkonventionen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall increase aid, strengthen the UN and sign the nuclear weapons convention.”
- dissolution of military alliances»Vänsterpartiet arbetar för militäralliansernas upplösning« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party works for the dissolution of military alliances”
The election manifesto is unambiguous: Sweden should join NATO and the membership is described as the best way for the country's security.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto is unambiguous: Sweden should join NATO and the membership is described as the best way for the country's security. The counter-proposal's demand for continued military non-alignment thus stands in direct conflict with the plan. The party programme's older line on military non-alignment carries less weight, since the election manifesto is the most recent and most binding expression of the party's stance.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet är entydigt: Sverige ska gå med i Nato och medlemskapet beskrivs som den bästa vägen för landets säkerhet. Motförslagets krav på fortsatt militär alliansfrihet står därmed i direkt strid med planen. Partiprogrammets äldre linje om militär alliansfrihet väger lättare, eftersom valmanifestet är det färskaste och mest bindande uttrycket för partiets hållning.
- Swedish NATO membershipdecisive»Sverige ska gå med i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should join NATO.”
- membership the best security path»Ett svenskt medlemskap i Nato är den bästa vägen för vårt lands säkerhet och Sverige har därför lämnat in sin medlemsansökan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A Swedish membership in NATO is the best way for our country's security and Sweden has therefore submitted its membership application.”
- military non-alignment (overridden)»Sverige ska vara militärt alliansfritt.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should be militarily non-aligned.”
The election manifesto explicitly states that Sweden should maintain its military non-alignment to continue working against nuclear weapons and for disarmament, and the party programme is therefore against NATO membership.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly states that Sweden should maintain its military non-alignment to continue working against nuclear weapons and for disarmament, and the party programme is therefore against NATO membership. The plan also rejects that Swedish foreign policy be adapted according to authoritarian states' demands in order to become a member. The counter-proposal's requirement for continued non-alignment is thus precisely the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet säger uttryckligen att Sverige ska behålla sin militära alliansfrihet för att kunna fortsätta arbeta mot kärnvapen och för nedrustning, och partiprogrammet är därför mot anslutning till Nato. Planen avvisar också att svensk utrikespolitik anpassas efter auktoritära staters krav för att bli medlem. Motförslagets krav på fortsatt alliansfrihet är alltså precis planens linje.
- preserved military non-alignmentdecisive»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 want Sweden to maintain its military non-alignment in order to continue working against nuclear weapons, for disarmament and to conduct an independent foreign policy where we stand up for human rights.”
- against NATO membership»alliansfriheten och är därför mot anslutning till« (party programme ↗)“non-alignment and is therefore against membership in”
- no adaptation for membership»inte att Sverige ska anpassa sin utrikespolitik efter auktoritära staters krav för kunna att bli medlem i Nato och Sverige ska inte börja sälja vapen till Turkiet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“not that Sweden should adapt its foreign policy according to authoritarian states' demands in order to become a NATO member and Sweden should not start selling weapons to Turkey.”
- nuclear weapon prohibition ratified»ratificera konventionen om kärnvapenförbud och arbeta för ett totalförbud mot att använda autonoma vapensystem.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“ratify the convention on nuclear weapon prohibition and work for a total ban on the use of autonomous weapon systems.”
The election manifesto is unambiguous: Sweden shall join NATO and entry shall be completed, and the term shall be characterised by bringing Sweden into the alliance.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto is unambiguous: Sweden shall join NATO and entry shall be completed, and the term shall be characterised by bringing Sweden into the alliance. The counter-proposal's requirement for continued military non-alignment is therefore directly against the plan's stated commitment. The party programme moreover emphasises that détente cannot be assumed and that security is built in close military cooperation with democracies in our vicinity.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet är entydigt: Sverige ska gå med i Nato och inträdet ska fullföljas, och mandatperioden ska präglas av att föra Sverige in i alliansen. Motförslagets krav på fortsatt militär alliansfrihet är därmed rakt emot planens uttalade åtagande. Partiprogrammet understryker dessutom att avspänning inte kan förutsättas och att säkerhet byggs i nära militärt samarbete med demokratier i vår närhet.
- membership in NATOdecisive»Sverige behöver satsa två procent av BNP på försvaret så snart det är praktiskt möjligt och gå med i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden must invest two per cent of GDP in defence as soon as practical and join NATO.”
- complete NATO entry»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 civil preparedness and complete entry into NATO.”
- NATO as main priority»Kommande mandatperiod kommer på många sätt att präglas av att föra Sverige in i Nato och höja vår försvarsförmåga« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The coming term will in many ways be characterised by bringing Sweden into NATO and raising our defence capability”
- military cooperation is needed»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.”
Both the election manifesto and party programme state that Sweden shall be a member of NATO and that security today is created in alliances, not in non-alignment.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
Both the election manifesto and party programme state that Sweden shall be a member of NATO and that security today is created in alliances, not in non-alignment. The counter-proposal's demand for continued military alliance-free status is the directly opposite line. The plan also describes the threat to the security order as acute following the Russian war of aggression, which further speaks against non-alignment.
Original (Swedish)
Både valmanifestet och partiprogrammet slår fast att Sverige ska vara medlem i Nato och att trygghet i dag skapas i allianser, inte i allianslöshet. Motförslagets krav på fortsatt militär alliansfrihet är den rakt motsatta linjen. Planen beskriver dessutom hotet mot säkerhetsordningen som akut efter det ryska anfallskriget, vilket ytterligare talar mot alliansfrihet.
- yes to NATO membershipdecisive»Därför ska Sverige gå med i Nato och tillsammans med USA, Kanada och våra europeiska grannar försvara både Sverige och vår del av världen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore, Sweden shall join NATO and together with the USA, Canada and our European neighbors defend both Sweden and our part of the world.”
- NATO membership as principle»Därför ska Sverige vara medlem i Nato.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore, Sweden shall be a member of NATO.”
- rejected non-alignment»I dag skapas trygghet i allianser, inte i allianslöshet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Today, security is created in alliances, not in non-alignment.”
- acute threat from Russia»Med det ryska anfallskriget mot Ukraina – detta angrepp mot hela Europa – är hotet mot vår säkerhetsordning akut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“With the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine – this attack on all of Europe – the threat to our security order is acute.”
The plan establishes that open and close cooperation with NATO should be a natural part of Swedish security policy, that Sweden cannot remain neutral if neighbouring countries are attacked and that cooperation with other countries shall secure Sweden's security policy needs.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that open and close cooperation with NATO should be a natural part of Swedish security policy, that Sweden cannot remain neutral if neighbouring countries are attacked and that cooperation with other countries shall secure Sweden's security policy needs. Continued military alliance-free status stands in direct contradiction to this. The plan reserves Sweden's own decisions on participation, but rejects passive neutrality.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att ett öppet och nära samarbete med Nato bör vara en naturlig del av svensk säkerhetspolitik, att Sverige inte kan stå neutralt om grannländer anfalls och att samverkan med andra länder ska säkerställa Sveriges säkerhetspolitiska behov. Fortsatt militär alliansfrihet står i direkt motsättning till detta. Planen förbehåller Sverige egna beslut om deltagande, men avvisar passiv neutralitet.
- close cooperation with NATOdecisive»med NATO bör, givet nämnda kriterier, vara en naturlig del av svensk säkerhetspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“with NATO should, given said criteria, be a natural part of Swedish security policy.”
- no neutrality in case of attack»neutrala om våra grannländer anfalls« (party programme ↗)“neutral if our neighbouring countries are attacked”
- security through cooperation»Sveriges säkerhetspolitiska behov tillgodoses ska samverkan med andra länder och organisationer vara en« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's security policy needs are met, cooperation with other countries and organizations shall be a”
- own decisions on territorial defence»självständigt få ta ställning till deltagande i ett eventuellt gemensamt territorialförsvar.« (party programme ↗)“independently get to take a position on participation in a possible joint territorial defence.”
Worldstate weighed in: Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the arrest warrant against Putin — actualizes the plan's requirement for security cooperation in the near region; Finland's NATO membership — makes alliance-free status in the North practically harder to reconcile with the plan's line
The plan explicitly welcomes Sweden joining NATO and calls it a question the party has driven for twenty years, and the party programme establishes that Sweden shall be a full member in the alliance.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly welcomes Sweden joining NATO and calls it a question the party has driven for twenty years, and the party programme establishes that Sweden shall be a full member in the alliance. The argument that alone one is not strong when Russia stands armed is the plan's own starting point. The counter-proposal's requirement for continued military non-alignment is therefore rejected by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen välkomnar uttryckligen att Sverige går med i Nato och kallar det en fråga partiet drivit i tjugo år, och partiprogrammet slår fast att Sverige ska vara fullvärdig medlem i alliansen. Argumentet att ensam inte är stark när Ryssland står på krigsfot är planens egen utgångspunkt. Motförslagets krav på fortsatt alliansfrihet avvisas därför av planen.
- NATO membershipdecisive»Vi välkomnar därför att Sverige ska gå med i Nato, en fråga vi drivit under 20 års tid.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We therefore welcome Sweden to join NATO, a question we have driven for 20 years.”
- full NATO membership»Vi ska vara en fullvärdig medlem i Nato« (party programme ↗)“We shall be a full member in NATO”
- security together with others»Samtidigt vet vi att ensam inte är stark när Ryssland än en gång står på krigsfot.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time we know that alone one is not strong when Russia again stands armed.”
- prepare defence for NATO»Förbereda försvaret för svenskt Natomedlemskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prepare the defence for Swedish NATO membership”
flags: citat_migrerat
The election manifesto, which carries the most weight, responds to the worsened security situation with rearmament, deepened Nordic defense cooperation and a defense pact with Finland – that is, binding alliance commitments, not continued sole alliance independence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto, which carries the most weight, responds to the worsened security situation with rearmament, deepened Nordic defense cooperation and a defense pact with Finland – that is, binding alliance commitments, not continued sole alliance independence. The party programme's alliance independence is explicitly a second-best option if a Nordic defense alliance proves impossible. The counter-proposal's argument that alliance membership worsens security has no support in the documents.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet, som väger tyngst, svarar på det försämrade säkerhetsläget med upprustning, fördjupat nordiskt försvarssamarbete och ett försvarsförbund med Finland – alltså bindande alliansåtaganden, inte fortsatt ensam alliansfrihet. Partiprogrammets alliansfrihet är uttryckligen ett andrahandsalternativ om en nordisk försvarsallians visar sig omöjlig. Motförslagets argument att ett alliansmedlemskap försämrar säkerheten har inget stöd i dokumenten.
- binding defense pactdecisive»Verka för ett försvarsförbund med Finland« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for a defense pact with Finland”
- openness to defense alliance»Sverigedemokraterna är öppna för möjligheten att skapa en nordisk försvarsallians.« (party programme ↗)“The Sweden Democrats are open to the possibility of creating a Nordic defense alliance.”
- deepened Nordic cooperation»Fördjupa det nordiska försvars- och säkerhetssamarbetet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deepen Nordic defense and security cooperation”
- adaptation to new security situation»Rusta Sverige inför en ny säkerhetspolitisk situation i vårt närområde« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Arm Sweden for a new security policy situation in our region”
Worldstate weighed in: Russia's war and the ICC's arrest warrant for Putin — significantly worsened security situation argues for binding defense cooperation instead of sole alliance independence
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:UU16)
- Committee report full text (HA01UU16)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:139 — Permanent baserade kärnvapen på svensk mark av Kalle Olsson och Anna-Caren Sätherberg (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1465 — Förbud mot kärnvapen och krav på Sveriges framtida Natomedlemskap av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1773 — Förbehåll om att inte tillåta kärnvapen på svensk mark av Jytte Guteland m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:181 — Stärk demokratin och de mänskliga rättigheterna av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2012 — Försvar och samhällets krisberedskap av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2041 — Utgiftsområde 5 Internationell samverkan av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2348 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:74 Sveriges medlemskap i Nato av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:2349 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:74 Sveriges medlemskap i Nato av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2022/23:74 — Sveriges medlemskap i Nato
Source: The Swedish Parliament