During the summer of 2024, Stockholm Free World Forum asked around twenty defense and security policy experts from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Sweden to answer a survey about the current and future security situation of their respective countries. The survey was conducted prior to the upcoming presentation of and decision on the Swedish government’s defense bill this autumn. The experts’ responses have been compiled by Patrik Oksanen, resident senior fellow Stockholm Free World Forum, in the report “The Experts: A Worsening Situation Demands Much More from Sweden.”
According to the report, the security situation is expected to worsen by 2030. Sixteen out of twenty-one experts foresee a negative development, identifying China and Russia, including their aggressions and mutual support, as central threats. Sweden’s current defense budget target of 2.6 percent of GDP is deemed insufficient, with several experts suggesting an increase to at least 4 percent. Civil defense is also considered underfunded, and the report emphasizes that Sweden promptly needs to strengthen its infrastructure and prepare for hybrid threats.
The experts’ opinions vary, but the overall conclusion is that the Swedish Defence Committee must significantly raise its ambitions.
Do note that this report is in Swedish.