Sweden to reintroduce national service

[Zarvan]

The Swedish government has announced the reintroduction of compulsory military service, as part of aims to rebuild national defences amid rising tensions in the region.

Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told a news conference said:

“I hope that we are going to find a path to a more stable, robust and functional means of recruitment.”

The new policy will affect Swedes born after 1999, according to a report by a former member of parliament for the defence ministry. Around 4,000 young Swedes are expected to be called up.

The new model will be a lighter version of Sweden’s former conscription system. This time only a few thousand people from each year group will be drafted into compulsory service. People will still, as is the current system, be able to volunteer for military service.

In mid-1995, with the national service system based on universal military training, the Swedish Army consisted of 15 maneuver brigades and, in addition, 100 battalions of various sorts (artillery, engineers, rangers, air defense, amphibious, security, surveillance etc.) with a mobilisation-time of between one and two days.

When national service was replaced by a selective service system, fewer and fewer young men were drafted due to the reduction in size of the armed forces.

Units from the Swedish Armed Forces are currently on deployment in several international operations either actively or as military observers, including Afghanistan as part of ISAF and in Kosovo. Moreover, Swedish Armed Forces contribute as the lead nation for an EU Battle Group approximately once every three years.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/sweden-reintroduce-national-service/

 

[war&peace]

That is good for Sweden. When i had discussion with their politicians, we concluded that was the best approach for Sweden instead of entering any alliance and thus compromising Sweden's principled stance of neutrality that has proven effective in WW II and the cold war despite being an EU member.

 

[Zarvan]

That is good for Sweden. When i had discussion with their politicians, we concluded that was the best approach for Sweden instead of entering any alliance and thus compromising Sweden's principled stance of neutrality that has proven effective in WW II and the cold war despite being an EU member.

I think soon most European countries will reintroduce it

 

[war&peace]

I think soon most European countries will reintroduce it

Pakistan should also resume it

 

[Zaem]

That is good for Sweden. When i had discussion with their politicians, we concluded that was the best approach for Sweden instead of entering any alliance and thus compromising Sweden's principled stance of neutrality that has proven effective in WW II and the cold war despite being an EU member.

Too bad Sweden most likely will join NATO, and after that Finland will follow them too. Theresnhuge anti Russian campaign going in our media, mostly news that are shown as "signs of war" when in reality its just normal Russian military exercise...
Swedens military is joke atm, they really need to beef it up if they want to stay neutral and be able to defend their land in worst case scenario.

 

[Penguin]

Dunno. Havent heard the vaguest of rumor that these two countries were interested in joining nato nor of nato wanting them to join...

 

[Kambojaric]

Dunno. Havent heard the vaguest of rumor that these two countries were interested in joining nato nor of nato wanting them to join...

A recent study conducted by the government established that Sweden would benefit from joining NATO. The debate has been going on here for a long time, and intensified in recent months as Russian subs and planes wander around the border.

http://www.di.se/artiklar/2016/9/11/ledare-sverige-in-i-nato/
(in swedish but maybe translate will work)

 

[Penguin]

A recent study conducted by the government established that Sweden would benefit from joining NATO. The debate has been going on here for a long time, and intensified in recent months as Russian subs and planes wander around the border.

http://www.di.se/artiklar/2016/9/11/ledare-sverige-in-i-nato/
(in swedish but maybe translate will work)

So what if it would benefit, that doesnt mean sweden is joining, or wants to, or that this is government intent. There are lots of stdies done.

 

[Kambojaric]

So what if it would benefit, that doesnt mean sweden is joining, or wants to, or that this is government intent. There are lots of stdies done.

This one is significant because it was conducted by the social democrats who historically have been the strongest advocates of neutrality. Still you are right, this does not mean Sweden is joining NATO at the moment, but the movement towards NATO is gaining momentum, and more and more people are talking about it.