18 June 2005 - DEFENCE AND SECURITY COMMITTEE MEETS IN SWEDEN AND NORWAY [Press Release]

The discussions focused on defence transformation in both countries and the particular role of each in developments in European security and transatlantic relations.  In Sweden the delegation was particularly interested in the continued non-aligned posture of Sweden, how it has changed in recent years, and how it continues to evolve.  Although there appears to be little popular support in Sweden for joining the Alliance, Sweden participates in many activities in NATO and plays a significant role in NATO operations.  In Norway the focus was on that country’s role as a NATO member that remains outside the European Union.  Divided public opinion and Norway’s unique economic position make it unlikely that it will join the EU in the near future.  But Norway cooperates closely with the EU on many matters and is a member of the newly created Nordic Battle Group with Sweden, Denmark and Estonia.

Both Sweden and Norway are working to transform their militaries into smaller, networked, and deployable forces.   This is a major challenge in most countries in Europe, but the Swedish policy of non-alignment during the Cold War left it with a heavy military structure that required considerable effort to transform it into one focused on international operations.   As a NATO member, Norway developed a somewhat different military structure, but is also in the process of restructuring it into a smaller and more deployable force.  Both countries, however, plan to retain conscription despite the fact that they can only use a small proportion of the available youth in their restructured militaries. 

The visit to the Joint Warfare Center was particularly informative.   There the members observed military personnel from a range of countries undergoing realistic training for their upcoming rotation in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.   Mock-ups of the command centers and role-playing exercises with incidents derived from recent experience on the ground made for solid preparation.  The members of the delegation were also impressed by the significant emphasis placed on interaction with non-governmental organizations and civilians likely to be encountered in the course of the mission in Afghanistan.