Sweden rearms for future fights...another unintended consequence of the Ukraine war.

Thanks to Adrian for the link!

via Defense News.

Sweden will raise defense spending by 10.2 billion kronor (US $1.18 billion) for the period 2016 to 2020, the government said Friday amid concerns over Russia's military resurgence.
"The agreement sends a signal, internationally, that Sweden is reacting to the security situation in the world, that Sweden is a guarantor for peace and stability in northern Europe and that the defense of Sweden's territory is in focus," Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told the TT news agency.

Read the entire article but make note of the wording the Defense Minister used....

Sweden is a guarantor for peace and stability in northern Europe 

That isn't said in the singular but appears to indicate that Sweden is part of a "confederation" that is going to keep northern Europe safe.  Additionally I don't get the sense that this is being pushed by the EU but by individual Scandinavian countries that are becoming alarmed.

This should worry Russia, but should scare the EU.

While the EU might be a fickle and powerless organization, nations inside it that decide to act in their own interests is a threat to its very existence.  If a cluster of nations look to each other and not the EU for security then why have the EU?

But back to the Sweden's defense plans.  What wasn't said in the article but passed along to me is even more interesting.  Check this out...

Sweden's army will consists of 8,5 battalions and homeguard.
Conscription is sort of reintroduced in the way that soldiers that quit early get placed doing the same job but in mobilizing unit that only train a few times a year.
The island of Gotland get 1 mechanized company Cv9040 and 1 reserve Tank company. This isn't much but atleast it forces the rebuilding of support infrastructure for heavier units to operate on the island then light infantry homeguard.
Also instead of 42 Leopard tanks all existing 120 will be placed in units since it's cheaper to pay for a less personnel intensive company Tank company then a mechanized one.
But the high points is that Swedens armed forces is actually reorganized to fight high intensity warfare (which they hadn't for a while, "Sweden is best defended in Afghanistan" is shit politicians have said)
The air force will be reorganized to not be so darn vulnerable (that road base concept sweden was known for is all gone in the last 10 years) so stuff will need to be rebuilt, but i would bet we get a nato base concept instead of dispersal !
Civil defense planning will be reactivated!
The army will Finally get AMOS mortars on Cv90's it's not said in name but a new mechanized mortar system can only mean that ( the stupidest cut in the last few years and that's up against some pretty stiff competition)
We'll get new medium rang SAM's to replace half the HAWK missile batteries !

That is a SUBSTANTIAL increase in combat power if my source is right.

Consider this another of those unintended consequences of the Ukraine conflict.

Sidenote:  What remains to be seen is how much damage has been done to NATO because of its inability to prevent Ukraine from going sideways.  How much longer can the alliance remain viable if its seen as useless?