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Sweden Launches Biggest Military Buildup Since Cold War, Nearly Doubles Ukraine Aid
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![Vlad Litnarovych]( "Vlad Litnarovych")
Sweden has unveiled its largest rearmament plan since the Cold War, aiming to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2030, and pledged to almost double the support for Ukraine, the Swedish government announced on March 26.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson noted that Sweden’s defense budget already exceeds NATO’s 2% benchmark but emphasized that more investment is necessary.
“Our goal is to push for an increase in this benchmark at the NATO summit in The Hague, and we are doing our part,” he stated.
Under the new plan, Sweden will invest nearly 300 billion Swedish kronor ($30 billion) in military upgrades, funded through loans.
Starting in 2025, Sweden will purchase weapons worth 25 billion kronor ($2.5 billion) for delivery between 2026 and 2028. The acquisitions include air defense systems, drones, rocket artillery, and protective gear with ammunition.
Additionally, 96 billion kronor ($9.5 billion) will be allocated in 2025 to counter hybrid threats.
In addition, the Swedish government has proposed increasing its military aid to Ukraine from 25 billion kronor ($2.5 billion) to over 40 billion kronor ($4 billion) in 2025, nearly doubling its previous commitment.
“This will allow Ukraine, which is in a vulnerable situation, to urgently strengthen its defense capabilities,” the government statement read.
The increase was made possible by reallocating funds from Sweden’s 2026 Framework Program for Ukraine.
On March 13, Sweden signed a $300 million contract to supply Ukraine with 18 Archer self-propelled artillery systems and 5 ARTHUR counter-battery radars.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson expressed confidence that these systems would significantly strengthen Ukraine’s forces and increase Russian losses.
Jonson also announced Sweden’s entry into the Artillery Coalition, a multinational initiative to coordinate the supply of modern artillery, ammunition, and training for Ukrainian troops.
The long-term goal of the coalition is to enhance Ukraine’s artillery capabilities and improve interoperability with NATO.
Additionally, Sweden will fund the production of Ukrainian-made weapons under the “Danish model”, though the exact amount, timeline, and types of weapons remain classified.
Earlier, Sweden was intensifying its military preparations in the Arctic region, focusing on potential security threats posed by Russia.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Swedish elite forces are undergoing specialized training to operate in extreme Arctic conditions, with Russia considered the primary adversary in potential future conflicts.
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