Stockholm, 8 May 2024
The Government has decided to submit the Agreement on Defense Cooperation bill between Sweden and the United States to the Swedish Riksdag. The agreement complements Sweden’s NATO accession and strengthens the country’s defence by facilitating US military presence in Sweden.
The Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the US is a natural extension of Sweden’s NATO membership and the changing conditions for Sweden’s security policy.
“To defend our freedom and democracy, we need to strengthen both our defence and international cooperation. With the DCA, Sweden can receive early, swift and effective military support from the United States in a deteriorating security situation, which is carefully regulated and based on Swedish consent. Therefore, the agreement acts as a deterrent and is stabilising. It reduces the risk of war breaking out and makes Sweden safer,” says Minister for Defence Pål Jonson.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has worsened Europe’s security situation and fundamentally changed Swedish security policy. This deteriorating security situation means that Sweden must be able to respond quickly to complex security developments – independently and with others.
In recent years, the US has signed similar bilateral DCAs with several European countries to improve cooperation and facilitate the presence of American personnel on European territory. Sweden, Finland and Denmark negotiated their DCAs in parallel, while Norway and the Baltic States already had such agreements in place. It is a strength that we get effective and similar forms of cooperation with the United States. It signals our consensus on security policy, enhances security in northern Europe and facilitates NATO’s defence planning.
According to the DCA, the cooperation is based on Sweden’s consent and is conducted with full respect for Swedish sovereignty, Swedish legislation and international obligations. This cooperation is conducted in accordance with international law. The DCA does not affect Sweden’s position that, as in other Nordic countries, there is no reason to deploy nuclear weapons or permanent bases on Swedish territory in peacetime. Entering into this agreement does not alter this position, which was previously expressed within the framework of Sweden’s NATO application. Sweden’s application to join NATO had broad support in the Riksdag, without reservations. This position remains unchanged.
The DCA bill will be submitted to Parliament today, Wednesday 8 May 2024.
Shortcuts
Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States
Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States
Published 06 December 2023
In 2023, representatives of Sweden and the US have negotiated an agreement to deepen defence cooperation between the countries. The Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) will constitute a framework for continued defence cooperation by regulating the conditions for the presence of US forces in Sweden. A DCA enables even closer cooperation with the US, both bilaterally and within the framework of NATO.
The deteriorating security situation in Europe is a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The conditions for Swedish security policy have therefore fundamentally changed. The deteriorating situation means that Sweden must be able to respond quickly to complex security developments – independently and together with others. Sweden’s application for NATO membership and a DCA with the US should be viewed in this context.
The US is one of Sweden’s most important security and defence policy partners, bilaterally and within NATO. In May 2016, Sweden and the US signed a Statement of Intent on enhanced bilateral defence cooperation. In 2018, Sweden signed a trilateral Statement of Intent with Finland and the US.
A DCA is a natural development of the long-term security and defence cooperation between Sweden and the US. The agreement will enable continuous cooperation by regulating the conditions for US forces to operate in another country. This includes issues such as the legal status of US military personnel, access to deployment areas, pre-positioning of military materiel, and tax and customs regulations.
A DCA also creates conditions for US military support should the security situation demand it, and is therefore an agreement of great consequence to Sweden’s security. The agreement is a clear signal that the US remains engaged in the security of Europe and its neighbourhood. The US has previously concluded DCAs with several European countries, including Norway. DCA negotiations are ongoing with Denmark and have recently been concluded with Finland.
The DCA states that all activities shall be conducted with full respect for Swedish sovereignty, Swedish laws and Sweden’s international legal obligations. It also states that the deepened security cooperation established in the agreement is in accordance with international law and is based on Swedish consent.
The DCA was signed by the Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and the United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the 5th of December 2023. In order for the agreement to enter into force, the Riksdag must approve it and adopt the legislative amendments needed to implement it. It should be possible for the Agreement to enter into force by late 2024.
Agreement on defense cooperation between Sweden and the United States of America.pdf
Questions and answers about the Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States
Why does Sweden want to have a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the US?
A DCA with the US creates conditions for more continuous cooperation between our countries and enables US military support and reinforcements if necessitated by the security situation. The US requires a DCA to be able to make investments and maintain a presence in Sweden for anything other than temporary and short-term exercises.
How can the agreement reduce the risk of an armed attack against Sweden?
The ability to quickly receive US military support before or at an early stage of a threat scenario is critical to preventing the emergence of military threats against Sweden and against allies in our neighbourhood, and to deterring and ultimately defending against an armed attack. The agreement is important for defence planning. It raises the threshold against armed attacks and has a stabilising effect. Concluding the agreement is in itself an important indication of the US’s security and defence policy engagement with Sweden.
What rights does the agreement grant the US?
The agreement enables more continuous cooperation by setting the conditions in advance for US forces to operate in Sweden. This includes issues such as the legal status of US military personnel, access to deployment areas, pre-positioning of materiel, and taxes and customs regulations. For the US to be able to effectively provide military support and contribute to the defence of Swedish territory, the US military needs to be granted certain rights. These rights are granted within well-regulated frameworks, in line with a standard that several NATO Members, EU Member States and other Nordic countries apply in their agreements with the US.
Will it be possible to convict US citizens of crimes they commit in Sweden?
Yes. The agreement regulates which country will have the primary right to prosecute and try offences by members of US forces in Sweden. The US will have primary jurisdiction for crimes committed by members of US forces both on- and off-duty. Sweden will be able to take back jurisdiction in cases we consider to be of particular importance like events that occur off-duty that do not solely concern US interests.
Has the agreement been concluded?
Yes, the DCA was formally concluded when it was signed, after which the contents were also published. For the agreement to enter into force, the Riksdag must approve and adopt the legislative amendments needed to implement it. Entry into force should be possible by the end of 2024.
What is regulated in the appendix to the DCA?
The appendix to the agreement lists agreed facilities and areas that US forces, US and Swedish contractors and their relatives will be granted access to and the right to use for visits, training, exercises and other activities. This will concern facilities operated by the Swedish Armed Forces. Sweden and the US will have joint access to all locations, excluding certain parts that the parties can agree are exclusively reserved for US forces. This could apply, for example, to a storage building.
What can the US store in Sweden under the agreement?
The agreement grants the US the right to store materiel in the locations specified in the appendix. This will concern locations operated by the Swedish Armed Forces. Sweden will always be informed about what is stored. The agreement builds on close cooperation between the US and Sweden and is subject to Swedish consent to the activities that take place in Sweden. All activities will take place with full respect for Swedish sovereignty, Swedish laws and international obligations of Sweden.
What does it mean if the US gains access to a location in my municipality/region?
In the short term, it means that the Swedish Armed Forces and the US counterparts will be able to conduct joint activities at the facilities more easily. In the long term, once collective planning within NATO and with Allies in our neighbourhood has progressed further, the facilities may be upgraded for collective defence needs. Our assessment is that US presence strengthens security locally and nationally.
Source: Swedish Minstry of Defence