Defense appropriations are increased by over SEK 5 billion

According to the authors, the cooperation parties - the government and the Sweden Democrats - will present their first budget next week.

In it, Minister of Defense Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, promise investments in total defence, which together with measures presented in the government declaration "represent a step forward to strengthen Sweden's security".

"The cooperation parties have been clear that Sweden's defense spending must increase so that it amounts to the equivalent of 2 percent of GDP by 2026 at the latest," they write and continue:

"In 2023, the government will increase the allocations within total defense by a total of just over SEK 5 billion".

According to the government, the money is to cover investments in the military and civil defense, personnel supply within the defense, a new ministry with joint responsibility for total defense, the completion of Sweden's NATO application, the establishment of a new national security council and increased support for Ukraine.