In June last year, a broad majority in the Swedish Parliament voted through a new military cooperation agreement with the United States, the DCA (Defence Cooperation Agreement). It took effect on August 15, and means that U.S. troops will have access to 17 regiments, squadrons, and training areas around Sweden. The purpose is to allow U.S. military forces to quickly arrive in Sweden in case of a crisis or war.
– Currently, the Swedish and American armed forces are working on six different implementation agreements, which regulate the cooperation on a more detailed level. This might include, for example, how U.S. soldiers should handle authority contacts in Sweden and other administrative and practical matters, says Minister of Defence Pål Jonson. He says that so far, no major preparations have been made to receive U.S. military personnel and their equipment at the 17 squadrons, regiments, and training areas that the U.S. will have access to. No U.S. barracks or storage facilities have started to be built.
– But U.S. representatives have visited Sweden and looked at the facilities.
According to the Minister of Defence, the U.S. could begin pre-storing military equipment in Sweden by the end of this year. Will American facilities be built at all 17 bases in Sweden?
– I don’t think that will be the case. Sweden is a large and elongated country, and the locations provide some flexibility to adapt to security and defense needs.
The U.S. can utilize the bases for pre-storage, maintenance workshops, and accommodations for U.S. soldiers.
Norway has large underground storage facilities near Trondheim where equipment for an entire U.S. Marine brigade is stored. This includes vehicles and supplies for 13,000 soldiers. According to Pål Jonson, the U.S. has not requested a storage facility of such a large scale in Sweden.
– In the political talks we’ve had, the discussion has mainly been about ammunition and fuel. However, there are possibilities, in connection with exercises, to store other types of army material, such as weapon systems and certain types of communication equipment. Although the agreement states that the U.S. will have unfettered access to the 17 bases, it is not just a matter of Americans showing up, according to Pål Jonson.
– No, it is regulated between the U.S. and the Swedish Armed Forces. They must notify in advance when they are coming. The activities that take place must be conducted with respect for Swedish law and Sweden’s international obligations. This is clearly stated in the DCA agreement.
Swedish authorities, however, will not have access to the American facilities being built on Swedish bases. Is there a risk that the Americans will store something on the bases that Sweden doesn’t want in the country?
– No. The U.S. must inform Sweden in advance about the defense materials they are bringing in and how much they are bringing in. The activities that take place must have Swedish consent.
Several experts have told DN that the DCA could pose risks for Sweden, especially now that the U.S. president is unreliable.
Pål Jonson says that Sweden has a strong interest in retaining U.S. military presence in Europe. He envisions that the U.S. will not have as large a permanent force stationed here in the future.
– That’s why it’s important to have agreements in place that make it easy to rotate units in and out, as well as to have the possibility of pre-storage. The U.S. president has claimed Greenland and stated that Canada should cease to be an independent state. Doesn’t that give you concerns about an even closer cooperation with the U.S.?
– No, not in relation to the DCA agreement. It specifies that activities must take place with Swedish consent.
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