Table of Contents
How much does a Swedish soldier make?
In addition to the generally low defense spending by Sweden, there are not many incentives to join the military—at least financially. Compared to the average Swedish salary, wages are quite low in the military; with starting pay around 18,000 kronor a month (approximately $2000).
Why is Sweden neutral?
Sweden had long been a strong military power, but it adapted the policy of neutrality to its own political interests. In 1941 it allowed German forces transit through Swedish territory to the Finnish front, and at the same time protected refugees from Nazism. After 1945 Sweden opted to preserve its neutral status.
Why Sweden is a superpower?
Sweden is the only Scandinavian country to have ever reached the status of a military great power….Swedish Empire.
| Swedish Empire Stormaktstiden | |
|---|---|
| Government | Absolute monarchy |
| Monarch | |
| • 1611–1632 (first) | Gustav II Adolph |
| • 1720–1721 (last) | Frederick I |
How big is Sweden’s army?
| Swedish Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Active personnel | 24,000 |
| Reserve personnel | 31,800 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | 60.6 billion kr (2019) |
Does Sweden have a strong military?
A couple of decades ago, Sweden had a strong military. Its air force was one of the capable in the world, its navy had dozens of ships and submarines, and artillery guarded the coastlines from a multitude of secret mountain hideaways.
Why does Sweden have a professional defence organisation?
The Swedish Armed Forces recently underwent a transformation from conscription -based recruitment to a professional defence organisation. This is part of a larger goal to abandon the mass army from the Cold War and develop an army better suited to modern maneuver warfare and at the same time retain a higher readiness.
Where are the Swedish Armed Forces currently on deployment?
Units of the Swedish Armed Forces are currently on deployment in several international operations either actively or as military observers, including Afghanistan as part of the Resolute Support Mission and in Kosovo (as part of Kosovo Force).
What happened to Sweden’s military after the Cold War?
When the Cold War ended and the Berlin wall came down in 1989, and when the Soviet Union collapsed shortly thereafter, the quality of the Swedish military began to wane. Why care, the thinking went? The Russian Bear was at peace. That was when a strange thing happened — the leaders of the Armed Forces decided to take a “time out.”