Elsa Widding confronted Defence Minister Pål Jonson during Friday’s interpellation debate in the Swedish Parliament. Widding’s questioning concerned Sweden’s intention to deploy warheads against Russia within the framework of the American DCA agreement.
Elsa Widding, an independent member of the Swedish Parliament and opponent of NATO, notes that through the DCA agreement, the Swedish government has invited the US to have the freedom to operate militarily from Swedish territory against Russia.
The Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Sweden and the United States entered into force on 15 August 2024. The DCA creates conditions for United States military support, should this become necessary due to the security situation. Russia is specifically mentioned.
Elsa Widding fears that the military build-up will increase Russian defence spending, threatening war against Sweden.
The DCA agreement aims to work with the US to strengthen Sweden’s collective ability to resist armed attacks. According to Widding, Sweden thus risks becoming a battlefield in an escalating conflict with Russia.
Article 4 of the DCA agreement states that the US has the option of assisting with the pre-positioning of defence equipment. Sweden’s prime minister has said on Swedish television that this is not currently on the table. Still, it cannot be ruled out that Sweden may accept the deployment of nuclear weapons in an “escalated” situation.
Russia’s former president, Dmitry Medvedev, recently said that NATO’s newer members are now potential targets for Russian retaliatory attacks with nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict.
Swedish state television (SVT.se) reported in May 2024 that Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is not closing the door on the deployment of American nuclear weapons on Swedish soil in times of war.
“In a war situation, it’s a completely different matter” – Kristersson
Widding’s questions to Defense Minister Pål Jonson:
- What preparations are currently underway for installing various weapon systems aimed at Russia at the 17 bases and training areas stipulated in the DCA agreement?
- How do these possible preparations contribute to the ongoing peace efforts to end the war in Ukraine?
- How does Medvedev’s statement affect any preparations underway at the bases controlled by the US through the DCA agreement?
- How does the minister view the risk that Russia will assume that nuclear weapons have been deployed and therefore choose to combat these bases with tactical nuclear weapons to prevent a dangerous situation from arising?
Widdings said that Jonson did not answer any of these questions during the public debate.
Source: Interpellation 2024/25:657 “Preparations in accordance with the DCA agreement”, Riksdagen