Sweden should spend more on defense and increase the number of conscripts, lawmakers recommend
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden should increase its military budget by nearly 54 billion kronor ($5 billion) until 2030 to strengthen its air defenses and beef up the number of conscripts, a Swedish parliamentary committee recommended Friday.
The Scandinavian country joined the NATO alliance in March, moving away from a decades-long policy of neutrality in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The report by the Defense Committee which is made up of representatives of the eight political parties sitting in the Swedish parliament, said that NATO membership and the serious security situation require higher ambitions. “An armed attack against Sweden or our allies cannot be ruled out,” the commission said in its report entitled “Strong defense capability, Sweden as an ally.”
Sweden’s air defense must also be expanded to meet threats from unmanned flying craft, more hunting and cruise missiles must be purchased and the navy should receive more personnel, according to the nearly 300-page report which also suggested that the number of conscripts should gradually be increased to 12,000 in 2032. Presently there are about 8,000 conscripts in Sweden.
Related articles
OpenAI pauses ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson comparisons
NEW YORK (AP) — OpenAI says it plans to halt the use of one of its ChatGPT voices after some users s2024-05-21- China's Queqiao-2 relay satellite has successfully performed a near-moon braking procedure and e2024-05-21
Peru's foreign minister to visit China
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea Franco will visit China from April 28 t2024-05-21Xi puts forth four principles to resolve Ukraine crisis
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday proposed four principles to prevent the Ukraine crisis from2024-05-21Amtrak train hits pickup truck in upstate New York, 3 dead including child
NEW YORK (AP) — A child was among the three victims killed when a passenger train hit a pickup truck2024-05-21Urban festival brings Olympic athletes closer to audience
The Urban Festival of the Olympic Qualifier Series officially kicked off last week in Shanghai, with2024-05-21
atest comment