From Partner to Ally: Sweden’s First Year in NATO

March 7, 2025 marks the first anniversary of Sweden’s full membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Sweden applied to join NATO alongside its neighbor Finland in May 2022, less than 3 months after Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, following an unprecedented groundswell of public support. This historic public shift from a policy of military non-alignment underpinned by a credible national defense and strong bilateral defense cooperation with countries such as Finland and the United States led Sweden to become the 32nd member of the NATO Alliance in 2024 after a slight delay due to internal alliance dynamics. 

Sweden’s contributions in its first year of NATO membership are substantial; it is a net contributor to the alliance. First, Sweden is strengthening NATO capabilities through its enhanced role in the Baltic Sea region. Second, Sweden — home to one of Europe’s largest defense industries — is both raising its own defense spending and producing capabilities needed by the alliance as a whole. Third, Sweden’s NATO membership is prompting a new level of planning and cooperation with all of the Nordics under the same umbrella — particularly in the Arctic. After decades of close partnership, Sweden is now more secure as a full member of the NATO Alliance, and NATO is already benefiting from Sweden as a full-fledged ally.  

Sweden Steps Up to Enhance Baltic Sea Security

Within a month of becoming a full member, Sweden demonstrated its added value to the NATO Alliance by committing to send Swedish troops to Latvia. In January 2025, around 550 Swedish armed forces were deployed to the multinational NATO battalion in Latvia designed to deter Russian invasion of NATO territory. The battalion, led by Canada and consisting of troops from over a dozen nationalities, helps ensure stability on NATO’s eastern flank. The battalion is one of eight forward deployed missions on NATO’s eastern flank designed to deter Russian aggression, four of which were established after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This is widely seen as Sweden’s largest contribution to the alliance and to regional security.  

In addition, a new forward land forces presence in Finland was announced in September 2024, with Sweden volunteering as the framework nation to lead NATO’s forces in Finland. Details regarding the size and placement of these forces are still being ironed out; forces should be in place within the next one to two years. The forward land force presence would differ from existing arrangements in the Baltics or elsewhere on NATO’s eastern flank, given Finland’s considerable troop numbers and strong reservist culture. Still, this represents a major commitment for NATO’s newest ally, and leverages their close military cooperation with Finland. Sweden’s leadership in establishing forward land forces in Finland and troop deployment in Latvia demonstrates its commitment to regional security and enhances NATO’s eastern flank presence.

Sweden’s leadership in establishing forward land forces in Finland and troop deployment in Latvia demonstrates its commitment to regional security and enhances NATO’s eastern flank presence.

In the maritime domain, the Baltic Sea has experienced an unprecedented level of hybrid and irregular activities in recent months leading to damaged critical undersea infrastructure. Sweden, drawing on its extensive experience operating in the Baltic Sea, has been at the forefront of addressing the hybrid threats facing the region. In addition to the Swedish navy’s monitoring and patrols, it was announced that Sweden would contribute a further three warships to increase the alliance’s presence in the Baltic Sea guarding against further acts of sabotage. Sweden also participates in the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, which launched a new operation dubbed “Nordic Warden” in early January 2025 to secure undersea infrastructure and curb activities of Russia’s “shadow fleet”.

Sweden’s Defense Industry Leadership

As Sweden commits to roles for its forces abroad in Finland and Latvia, at home its defense industry is also ramping up to meet the most challenging security environment facing Europe since World War Two. Currently, Sweden plans to spend about 2.4% of its GDP on defense in 2025, with plans to reach 2.6% in 2028. This percentage or timetable may increase given Europe’s revised threat perception due to the changing policies of the current US administration and its approach to European security. Due to its strong economy, in terms of real dollars Sweden spends the most on defense out of all of the Nordic countries and figures from 2024 are expected to show Sweden as the 8th highest overall spender in the alliance. 

Sweden is the world’s 13th-largest arms exporter, with around 200 companies producing materiel for use in Ukraine and for domestic defense. Saab, Sweden’s largest defense contractor, is investing in new factories to meet increased demand following  Russia’s invasion in 2022. At their Kockums shipyard in Karlskrona, Saab is also currently in the process of building two new A26 Blekinge-class submarines to patrol the Baltic Sea, an area where US submarines have difficulty operating due to the shallow, brackish waters. 

Due to its strong economy, in terms of real dollars Sweden spends the most on defense out of all of the Nordic countries and figures from 2024 are expected to show Sweden as the 8th highest overall spender in the alliance. 

Saab is best known for producing the Gripen jet fighter, a rival to the US-built F-35 system. The Gripen prevents an overreliance on a single provider for fighter jets and is a highly customizable system. Saab also develops a wide array of equipment from early airborne warning radars, artillery systems, as well as small arms and munitions. Sweden’s defense companies also lead in the manufacturing of satellites and the country hosts the only launch pad capable of sending rockets to orbit in Europe at the Esrange Space Center.

NATO’s New Northern Corridor

Sweden’s full NATO membership one year ago was the final missing piece for all five Nordic countries to be under the same alliance for the first time since the Kalmar Union ended in 1523. With the five Nordics under the same defensive umbrella, this allows for greater NATO defense planning. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has undertaken the largest defense planning process since the Cold War, with alliance leaders agreeing to thousands of pages of plans at the 2023 Vilnius Summit. In particular, new regional plans focused on the Alliance’s northern flank, central, and southern corridor take into account the northward shift of the alliance since Finland and Sweden’s membership. In particular the “Cap of the North” (the northern territories of Norway, Sweden, and Finland) is witnessing renewed attention as cross-border exercises and cooperation are reinvigorated and prioritized with Sweden’s NATO membership. Sweden also plays an important role in Alliance planning purposes, likely serving as a critical logistics hub to support the Baltics or Finland in the event of Russian incursions along Europe’s eastern flank. 

As one of the eight Arctic nations, Sweden’s membership in NATO also represents a dramatic shift in NATO’s presence and capabilities in the Arctic region. Although the Arctic remains a zone of peace, Sweden brings its Arctic know-how to the table, increasing Arctic capabilities of the Alliance. Record-breaking NATO exercises in cold-weather conditions in December 2024 ensures the alliance–which is defensive in nature–has the capabilities to operate in all domains and defend NATO territory. Furthermore, enhanced cross-border communication and infrastructure add a new northern dimension to NATO’s capabilities with Sweden as an ally.

Sweden’s Stepping Up

Sweden has raised the bar of what a new ally can bring to the NATO alliance, especially after only one year as a full member. From committing Swedish forces on the ground in Latvia, to establishing a new forward land forces configuration in Finland, and enhancing its presence in the Baltic Sea to deter malign hybrid operations from damaging critical underseas infrastructure, Sweden is sending a clear signal of its regional and defensive priorities. Its defense industry has similarly risen to meet the challenge of the current security environment as it expands production capabilities and bolsters materiel offerings at the alliance’s disposal. And its full membership unlocks a new northern dimension of the alliance, culminating in greater NATO capabilities in the Arctic region. Sweden’s first year and first steps as a full member of the NATO alliance demonstrates its value as an ally, building on its long history as a valued partner.