Sweden Allocates Additional $55M To Strengthen Armed Forces’ Defence

Swedish government has proposed extra funding of SEK 500 million (USD 55 million) in its spring budget to the Swedish Armed Forces and Sweden’s total defence capability in 2017.

In the spring amending budget, the Government has proposed additional funding of SEK 405 million to the Swedish Armed Forces, ministry announced Tuesday.

This additional funding will be used to increase the preparedness and availability of military units; strengthen the Battlegroup of Gotland with anti-aircraft capability; carry out exercises and increase the numbers involved in exercises that are already planned; improve cyber security; and purchase spare parts and vehicles for units. 

In addition, the Government has proposed SEK 60 million to strengthen municipalities' and county councils' work in the area of civilian defence, SEK 15 million for the county administrative boards for total defence planning, SEK 10 million for the National Defence Radio Establishment to strengthen society's resilience to cyberattacks against vital public services and SEK 10 million for the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency for efforts to counter cyber-attacks, the statement added.