Sweden adopts controversial US military cooperation agreement

The bilateral military agreement between the USA and Sweden has been adopted by the majority of the Swedish Parliament, despite the concerns of the ecologist and far-left opposition about the transfer of nuclear weapons to Swedish soil.

After almost six hours of debate, the controversial bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States announced last December, passed with 266 in favour and 37 against

"There is a common interest in getting the agreement in place as quickly as possible," said Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson.

The agreement gives the US military the right to use 17 Swedish military bases and training areas across the country, aside from Sweden's new NATO obligations. Washington has concluded similar agreements with several other countries, including Finland, Norway, Denmark, the Baltic countries and Poland.

It is however unclear exactly when the US will be able to start deploying personnel and equipment to Swedish bases.

Jonson expects Sweden to implement the agreement within a month and then send a note to the US.

"We have said that a memorandum can be exchanged around August and then work could move forward," he said.

According to the Swedish government, the agreement will strengthen deterrence against Russia and in the event of a crisis or conflict, the starting distance for American soldiers will be considerably shorter if weapons, ammunition, supplies and fuel are already stored on the ground in Sweden.

Opposition worried about nuclear weapons

However, the opposition Greens and Left parties remained highly critical of what they saw as a lack of clear language on nuclear weapons in the treaty.

"Sweden is the only country in the Nordic region that lacks clauses in the agreement that provide protection against nuclear weapons," declared Left Party lawmaker Håkan Svenneling during the debate on Tuesday.

The Swedish prime minister indeed declared last month that in wartime, the country could host nuclear weapons.

“If there is a war with us on our land, which Sweden is drawn into after an attack by others, then it is a completely different situation. Then the whole of NATO benefits from the nuclear umbrella that must exist in democracies as long as countries like Russia have nuclear weapons,” Kristersson told P1 radio station.

The Swedish government repeatedly affirmed that it will continue to decide which weapons are brought into the country but according to Svenneling, that could change, for example if a new president comes to power in the US.

"Agreements are not only written for days with sunshine, but also for days with rain, clouds and even storms," he said.

Jonson rejected the opposition's accusations, pointing out that Sweden remains a sovereign country.

“It is very clear that Sweden is a sovereign country, there is no other country that can force Sweden to have nuclear weapons on Swedish territory," he said.

However, the agreement makes no explicit provision for a ban on nuclear weapons on Swedish soil.

[Edited by Alice Taylor]