Sweden's Social Democratic Party has called for Finnish assistance in strengthening its conscription programme as the country seeks to significantly expand its defence capabilities over the coming years.
Former defence minister and party spokesperson Peter Hultqvist told Dagens Nyheter that Finland's Swedish-speaking officers could help train Swedish troops as Stockholm prepares to increase its annual conscript intake.
“I believe it is also in Finland's interest that Sweden can train more conscripts in the short term,” Hultqvist said.
Sweden plans to raise its number of conscripts from 8,000 to 12,000 per year by 2032. The original goal of reaching the higher number by 2030 was postponed after the Swedish Armed Forces concluded that the timeline was too ambitious.
The opposition Social Democrats argue that the target still falls short of what is needed for Sweden’s defence. The party is now pushing for 20,000 conscripts per year, citing the worsening security environment in Europe.
To help reach that target, the party has proposed a revision to the officer training curriculum. The aim is to speed up the deployment of instructors. Supplementing Swedish instructors with qualified personnel from neighbouring Finland was included as a key element of the proposal.
The suggestion would require a formal agreement between the two countries’ defence administrations. Finland already trains a large annual cohort of conscripts and maintains a broad pool of reservists. A number of Finnish officers are bilingual in Swedish, a legacy of the country's official bilingualism and long history of military cooperation with Sweden.
The Social Democrats also support more frequent refresher exercises and the expansion of Sweden's operational brigades.
Both Finland and Sweden joined NATO following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Finnish Defence Forces operate under a conscription-based model, which Sweden reinstated in 2017 after previously suspending it in 2010. While Sweden has moved gradually to expand its military capabilities, recent geopolitical developments have prompted more urgent calls for defence investment and preparedness.
The suggestion by the Social Democrats comes amid broader discussions within NATO about burden sharing and regional readiness. It also reflects a deepening of Nordic military ties as both countries adjust to their new alliance commitments.
HT