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Lena Mellin

Who can Sweden trust when it comes to?

The list is not impressively long

PUBLISHED: LESS THAN 20 MIN THEN

COLUMNISTS

Alone is not strong. Sweden knows this as a small non-aligned country on the outskirts of northern Europe.

So we are in need of friends.

But who can Sweden trust - really?

"The Ukraine crisis has served as a clear reminder that Sweden needs friends."

"The Ukraine crisis has served as a clear reminder that Sweden needs friends."

Photo: Alexei Nikolsky / AP

Sweden, together with Finland, is sandwiched between Russia and the Western defense alliance NATO.

Sweden needs friends. If it had been forgotten, the Ukraine crisis would have served as a clear reminder.

But who can Sweden trust when it really matters? The list is not super long.

1. Finland. Finland, which is also non-aligned, is Sweden's closest security policy partner. Defense co-operation between our two countries is already extensive and is growing month by month.

It may seem reassuring.

But the friendship suffered a serious setback in December last year. Finland then announced that it had opted out of the Jas 39 Gripen, the pearl of the Swedish defense industry, when it was to buy new combat aircraft for SEK 100 billion for its air force.

Instead, they chose to buy the American F35 from Lockheed Martin.

The Swedish disappointment was enormous. Some perceived it as a betrayal: Not even the Finns could be trusted completely. Friendship had its limits even in this case.

"On what are Andersson's and Marin's concerns that other countries have forgotten this provision?"

"On what are Andersson's and Marin's concerns that other countries have forgotten this provision?"

Photo: BJÖRN LINDAHL

 2. EU. Sweden has been a member of the European Union for 27 years. It is thus about a long-term relationship. But obviously not as safe as many have thought.

The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force at the end of 2009, contains a well-known so-called defense clause. It means "that if a Member State is subjected to an armed attack on its territory, the other Member States are obliged to provide that Member State with support and assistance by all available means."

But despite the well-known clause, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and her Finnish colleague Sanna Marin felt compelled to write a letter to the President of the European Council and thus to the other 25 Heads of Government in the EU, recalling its existence. They did so recently, ahead of discussions at the informal EU summit in France at the end of the week.

On what basis are Andersson's and Marin's concerns that other countries have forgotten this provision? You do not know.

The only thing we know is that the two prime ministers do not seem to trust at all that they get help from the other members of the EU if needed.

I would call it particularly disturbing.

NATO's defense guarantees only apply to members, which Jens Stoltenberg has repeated many times.

NATO's defense guarantees only apply to members, which Jens Stoltenberg has repeated many times.

Photo: JOHANNA GERON / AP

 NATO. When the Ukraine crisis became really acute at the end of January, Foreign Minister Ann Linde and her Finnish colleague NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met in Brussels.

After the meeting, Stoltenberg said that Sweden and Finland were NATO's most important partners.

It sounded reassuring. But did not extend to the defense guarantees described in Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. It only applies to members, which Jens Stoltenberg has repeated many times. One should not believe anything else - despite his warming words.

4. USA. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö paid a quick visit to US President Joe Biden this weekend. During the meeting, the presidents called Magdalena Andersson.

The result, as far as is known, is that military cooperation between the three countries will be expanded.

But what does that mean in practice? It is so far extremely unclear. Maybe nothing.

Sauli Niinistö paid a visit to US President Joe Biden this weekend.

Sauli Niinistö paid a visit to US President Joe Biden this weekend.

Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo / AP

 5. United Kingdom. At the end of last week, Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist and his British colleague Ben Wallace met in Copenhagen

Wallace assured that Sweden could count on help from Britain if we were to be exposed to aggressive actions on the part of Russia.

But what does this promise mean? Hopefully we will never know. It is only in the case of a Russian aggression that it is clear if it is only a matter of blue fumes. Or "boots on the ground", boots on the ground, as militarily interested people usually say.

Who can Sweden trust when it comes to? The list does not impress.