The M-game is being made before the negotiations on the next defense decision for 2021-2025 will start in a month.

Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist (S) thinks it is inappropriate to make negotiating bids already. He believes that the defense economy needs to be analyzed more.

- I do not participate in any public auction procedure, says Hultqvist.

In the spring, the Defense Committee, which includes all parties, presented a proposal on how the defense should be strengthened during the period 2021-2025.

The cost of military defense was estimated to amount to SEK 84 billion as of 2025. Based on the 2019 cost situation, this would correspond to 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product in 2025.

Need more?

However, according to M's calculations, a defense budget of SEK 93 billion is required by 2025 to reach the target of 1.5 per cent of GDP.

- When Sweden needs a stronger defense, we cannot once again under-fund the defense decision. We will not accept that, says M-leader Ulf Kristersson.

TT: Can Sweden really afford another nine billion more for the defense?

- Now we are talking about a level rise until 2025 and that is what Sweden can afford. It is a vital home insurance for Sweden in a very troubled environment, says Ulf Kristersson.

According to him, 93 billion is necessary to be able to implement the whole of the Defense Committee's proposals.

Biggest increase

In August last year, the government, the Center and the Liberals agreed to raise the level of the defense budget by SEK 25 billion from 2021 to 2025. This represents the largest increase in the proposal allocations in several decades.

TT: Is it reasonable to raise another nine billion kronor?

- It is the government that does not live up to the defense committee's own proposal. They do not value their grants, says Kristersson.

It is unclear how far the government's announced increase in funding will reach compared to M's new projections on a defense budget of 93 billion by 2025.

Unclear figures

According to the Minister of Defense, the government's announced increase in funding of SEK 25 billion by 2025 would lead to a defense budget of SEK 85 billion in the 2019 cost situation. But some of the increase in appropriations will be hedged.

This autumn, the Riksdag will decide on the defense policy direction 2021-2025. Negotiations on the bill to which the Riksdag will decide are further complicated by the fact that the Swedish Armed Forces has made other calculations on what it costs to implement the defense committee's proposal.

According to the Armed Forces, much more is taken than the billions the Moderates want to raise.

Parliamentary parties will analyze the Armed Forces' calculations over the next month. The government then begins negotiations on the defense bill. The parties that the government invites to the upcoming negotiations are not clear.

"I will not close the door for the Moderates," says Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist.