The move was made in her speech at the People and Defense National Conference in Sälen. In it, Andersson pointed out that Russia's long-term, aggressive ambitions and the US's new security strategy have changed the playing field for European security.
The Social Democratic leader therefore wants Europe to act "quickly and forcefully" to strengthen its defense, especially in northern Europe, and to work together with NATO countries in the Baltics and the Nordic countries for a multinational force at Swedish bases on Gotland.
Serves several purposes
One purpose of such a force is to protect trade in the Baltic Sea and to enable sending reinforcements to Baltic countries in the event of a Russian attack.
Control over the Baltic Sea in a crisis or war situation will be crucial, says Andersson.
The party's defense policy spokesman Peter Hultqvist sees another reason.
It's a way of highlighting that it's not just Sweden you're going to if you go to Gotland, he says.
Surprised
Despite concerns about what could happen to NATO after the US's new security strategy and after President Trump's statement that the US wants to take over Greenland, Hultqvist does not want the multinational force to be independent of NATO. He trusts that NATO will continue to function in the future.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) states that the government would have no problem with a multinational force on Gotland if NATO decides that it is needed.
However, he is a little surprised by the Social Democrats' move.
So far, the Social Democrats, together with the Left Party, have been the most opposed to having permanent foreign forces on Swedish soil, says Kristersson.
