Foreign policy, security policy and crisis preparedness

The party programme wants to see close cooperation between the Nordic countries and build better, defensive cooperation as a counterweight to NATO, with a total defence built on universal conscription. A Nordic commission anchored in all Nordic parliaments is in that direction and moreover gives elected oversight in security policy. The plan's opposition to militarization makes the support conditional and the assessment somewhat uncertain.

• close Nordic cooperationdecisive»Vi vill se ett tätt samarbete mellan de nordiska länderna och ett gott« (party programme ↗)“We want to see close cooperation between the Nordic countries and good”
• defensive cooperation»motvikt till det, som istället bygger upp bättre, defensiva samarbeten,« (party programme ↗)“counterweight to that, which instead builds up better, defensive cooperation,”
• total defence with conscription»Vi vill se ett modernt totalförsvar byggt på allmän värnplikt, med en« (party programme ↗)“We want to see modern total defence built on universal conscription, with a”
• against militarization»Vi vänder oss emot militarisering och kapprustning.« (party programme ↗)“We oppose militarization and arms races.”

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 election manifesto makes Nordic cooperation central to security policy and wants to continue international cooperation and strengthen civil defence. The party programme explicitly wants to develop Nordic cooperation to meet common challenges. A Nordic defence and security policy commission with shared analysis and coordination of total defence aligns with these commitments.

• Nordic cooperation is centraldecisive»Också det nordiska samarbetet är centralt, liksom samarbetet med de baltiska staterna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Nordic cooperation is also central, as is cooperation with the Baltic states.”
• develop Nordic cooperation»Vi vill utveckla det nordiska samarbetet för att möta de gemensamma utmaningarna som« (party programme ↗)“We want to develop Nordic cooperation to meet the common challenges facing”
• continued defence cooperation»Vi vill fortsätta internationella samarbeten och utveckla cyberförsvaret och underrättelseförmågan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue international cooperation and develop cyber defence and intelligence capability.”
• strengthened civil defence»Arbetet att förstärka det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen måste fortsätta« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to strengthen civil defence and crisis preparedness must continue”

The plan explicitly values Nordic cooperation in the region and wants to broaden security policy so that it meets future crises, with a greater share of defence spending on civil defence and crisis preparedness. A joint Nordic commission for security policy analysis and total defence aligns with this, even though the plan does not mention any such body.

• Nordic cooperationdecisive»Vi vill värna det unika samarbetet i vårt närområde, mellan de nordiska staterna.« (party programme ↗)“We want to value the unique cooperation in our region, between the Nordic states.”
• civil defence and crisis preparedness»satsa en större andel av försvarets pengar på det civila försvaret, och öka anslagen till krisberedskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“allocate a greater share of defence spending to civil defence, and increase allocations to crisis preparedness”
• broad security perspective»Vi vill se en politik som sätter mänsklig säkerhet« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a policy that puts human security”

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 party programme emphasises Nordic cooperation as an important role for security and bridging European constellations. The election manifesto wants to strengthen both military defence and civilian preparedness, which are precisely the issues a Nordic defence and security policy commission should analyse and coordinate. The requirement is therefore in line with the plan, even though the plan does not comment on the specific commission format.

• Nordic cooperation importantdecisive»Det nordiska samarbetet, som överbryggar många europeiska konstellationer, spelar en viktig roll.« (party programme ↗)“Nordic cooperation, which bridges many European constellations, plays an important role.”
• strengthen defence and preparedness»Centerpartiet vill rusta försvaret, stärka Sveriges civila beredskap och fullfölja inträdet i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Centre Party wants to strengthen defence, strengthen Sweden's civilian preparedness and complete NATO accession.”
• strengthened total defence»Även det civila försvaret är livsviktigt. Vi måste rusta civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap inför krig och kris.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civilian defence is also vital. We must strengthen civil defence and society's preparedness for war and crisis.”

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 bases security policy on cooperation with other democracies and wishes Sweden never to hesitate to together with democratic neighboring countries defend democracy, with particular Swedish contributions to the defense of Finland and the Baltic. A Nordic defense and security policy commission with joint analysis of the Arctic and the Baltic Sea serves precisely that purpose. The substantive demand is therefore supported, even though the plan does not mention the commission form.

• cooperation with democraciesdecisive»Grunden för Sveriges säkerhetspolitik ska vara samarbete med andra demokratier.« (party programme ↗)“The foundation for Sweden's security policy shall be cooperation with other democracies.”
• joint defense with neighboring countries»Vi är den tydligaste rösten för att Sverige aldrig ska tveka att tillsammans med demokratiska grannländer försvara demokratin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are the clearest voice for Sweden never to hesitate to together with democratic neighboring countries defend democracy.”
• Swedish strategic depth in the north»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 particularly able to contribute the infrastructure needed to create a necessary and strategic depth for the defense of Finland and the Baltic.”
• joint defense in the alliance»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.”

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 party programme establishes that Swedish security policy shall be characterized by cooperation, foresight and comprehensive solutions and that appropriate joint institutions should exist to streamline international cooperation. A Nordic defense and security policy commission with joint analysis is such an institution. The plan is, however, silent on parliamentary anchoring specifically.

• cooperation in security policydecisive»Sveriges säkerhetspolitik ska präglas av samarbete, förutseende och helhetslösningar« (party programme ↗)“Swedish security policy shall be characterized by cooperation, foresight and comprehensive solutions”
• joint institutions»bör lämpliga gemensamma institutioner finnas« (party programme ↗)“appropriate joint institutions should exist”
• cooperation with allies»vara en naturlig del av svensk säkerhetspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“be a natural part of Swedish security policy.”

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 election manifesto wants Sweden's NATO membership together with Finland to lead to deepened cooperation within the Nordic region and between the Nordic region and the Baltics, and for cooperation in Northern Europe to be deepened. A Nordic defence and security policy commission with shared security policy analysis is a concrete expression of that commitment. The plan moreover readily establishes coordinating bodies, such as a national security council.

• fördjupat nordiskt samarbetedecisive»Verka för att Sveriges Natomedlemskap tillsammans med Finland leder till ett fördjupat samarbete inom Norden och mellan Norden och Baltikum« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for Sweden's NATO membership together with Finland to lead to deepened cooperation within the Nordic region and between the Nordic region and the Baltics”
• samarbete i norra Europa»Verka för ett fördjupat samarbete i norra Europa« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for deepened cooperation in Northern Europe”
• grannländernas särställning»Relationen till våra nordiska och baltiska grannländer har en« (party programme ↗)“The relationship with our Nordic and Baltic neighbours has a”
• samordning av säkerhetspolitiken»Inrätta ett nationellt säkerhetsråd på Statsrådsberedningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish a national security council at the Government Offices”

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 explicitly commits to deepening Nordic defence and security cooperation further and itself proposes a joint Nordic body in the form of a crisis management committee. A Nordic defence and security policy commission anchored in Nordic parliaments is the same type of coordination instrument. The plan also points to the Arctic and neighbouring region's security situation as prioritized issues.

• Nordic defence cooperationdecisive»Fördjupa det nordiska försvars- och säkerhetssamarbetet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deepen Nordic defence and security cooperation”
• deepened security cooperation»Det är vår mening att försvars- och säkerhetssamarbetet behöver fördjupas ytterligare och att gemensamma insatser krävs för att stävja gränsöverskridande organiserad brottslighet och terrorism.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is our view that defence and security cooperation needs to be deepened further and that joint efforts are required to stem transnational organized crime and terrorism.”
• Nordic coordination body»Inrätta en nordisk krisberedskapskommitté för samordnad hantering av kriser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish a Nordic crisis management committee for coordinated crisis response”
• Arctic policy»En tydlig Arktispolitik ska tas fram som hindrar ryska och kinesiska framflyttningar och bejakar svenska ekonomiska intressen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A clear Arctic policy should be drawn up that prevents Russian and Chinese advances and supports Swedish economic interests.”

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.