On Tuesday, the government ordered a supplementary budget base for 2021 from the Swedish Armed Forces. It should be completed on July 24.
The assignment states that a new regiment will be established in Östersund during 2026-2030. The regiment will be responsible for training one to two local defense shooting battalions.
The new regiment was included in the Defense Committee's proposal from 2019 on a strengthened Swedish defense. However, it has not been clear where the regiment should be placed. In the now interrupted negotiations between the government and M, C, KD and L about a defense bill, both Östersund and Sollefteå have been discussed. The Defense Committee has also mentioned Falun and Härnösand.
"Has clear weight"- Östersund is very central from a transport point of view when it comes to receiving host country support, says Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist (S).
By host country support is meant support from other countries to Sweden, especially NATO countries, in a crisis situation.
Hultqvist emphasizes that Östersund is an important hub in this context.
- From a military strategic horizon, Östersund has a very clear weight, says the Minister of Defense.
The Government aims to present a defense policy bill in September on the defense policy direction 2021-2025.
Could be changedThis bill currently has no majority support in the Riksdag, but Hultqvist assumes that negotiations with other parties will resume. Therefore, the Minister of Defense points out that plans for, among other things, a new regiment in Östersund can be changed.
- This will be the subject of new political discussions, says Hultqvist.
He states that despite the uncertainty, the government must now order documentation from the Armed Forces so that the upcoming bill can be quality assured.
The government also wants the Armed Forces to start planning for a division artillery battalion with fire pipe artillery. The artillery training will be placed in Kristinehamn / Villingsberg. Establishment will begin during the period 2021-2020.