We are not closing any doors to doing more. It seems quite obvious, I think, says the Sweden Democrats' economic policy spokesperson Oscar Sjöstedt.
The Riksdag has already decided that the defence budget will grow from SEK 125 billion in 2024 to SEK 173 billion in 2028. This corresponds to 2.6 per cent of GDP.
A intensive discussion is currently being held in the EU and in NATO about Europe needing to take greater responsibility for its security and not rely on the USA. It has been mentioned that countries' defence budgets need to correspond to at least 3.5 per cent of GDP. USA's President Donald Trump has spoken of five per cent.
Not even Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (The Moderate Party) has ruled out that further investments may be needed.
The same line is taken by the Social Democrats. However, the party's economic policy spokesperson Mikael Damberg emphasizes that it is then important to simultaneously discuss financing.
It is clear that if we are to have a serious conversation about security and further investments, we must have a discussion about financing in the same context, says he.
Damberg believes that Sweden first needs to conduct a new security policy analysis before discussing further investments in defence. Thereafter, one can proceed with new defence investments.
Then one should also discuss how it will be financed, says Damberg.
Otherwise, there is a very great risk that the government would instead end up with drastic savings in the healthcare system, which would reduce our preparedness. Or that we cannot afford infrastructure investments that may be needed in this kind of security policy situation.
The Social Democrats, among other things, want to look into a preparedness tax, for example on capital income.
