Without much public debate and at record speed, the Swedish government wants to give EU and NATO countries the possibility to conduct military operations from Swedish territory. Sweden could thereby take a historic step toward becoming a potential theater of war.

Have you missed the Swedish government’s Bill 2025/26:254? Then you are in good company—and that is probably exactly how the government wants it. Why else would it try to push through a decision at record speed, without public debate, in the middle of the holiday season and with strong support from allied media actors, if the proposal did not have far-reaching consequences for the country and its population?

Bill 2025/26:254 is titled “Improved Conditions for Operational Military Cooperation” and was presented as recently as April 30.

In simple terms, it concerns the government’s desire to gain broader authority to allow other countries’ military forces to use Swedish territory, ports, airports, and military facilities for operations and missions.

“Military Defense Measures on Swedish Territory”

According to the government, the proposal is intended to “create better conditions for Sweden to participate in operational military cooperation within NATO” by allowing NATO—or a state that is a member of NATO or the European Union—to “undertake military defense measures on Swedish territory.” The proposal also includes several legislative amendments aimed at “improving the conditions” for foreign forces to conduct military activities in Sweden.

The memorandum states that the proposal is motivated by the need “to be able to transfer administrative responsibilities to NATO or certain states in order to defend the territory of an allied state,” and that “membership in NATO requires that NATO and allied states be able to conduct military activities for deterrence and defense on and from allied territory, including Swedish territory.”

Under section 5.1, “Expanded Opportunity for the Government to Transfer Administrative Responsibilities to NATO or Certain States,” the following proposal is presented:

“The Government may decide that NATO, or a state that is a member of that organization or of the European Union, when conducting military activities for deterrence and defense, may undertake military defense measures in accordance with international law on Swedish territory, and through such a decision transfer administrative responsibilities to NATO or that state.”

The “administrative responsibilities” referred to in the memorandum mean, in practice, that the Swedish government wishes to be able to transfer decision-making authority concerning military operations and attacks on Swedish soil to another state. Put simply: the government wants to allow other NATO or EU countries to use Sweden as a base for military operations.

Take a moment and let that sink in: Sweden’s government is actively working to make Sweden a potential theater of war—an enormous military operations area, a Ukraine 2.0.

Is Sweden—and the Swedish People—Being Sacrificed?

Are plans like these what lie behind the massive propaganda campaign that Swedes have been subjected to for years? “Prepare for war! Russia may attack within a few years! Stockpile food! Keep cash at home! Sweden is under threat! The question is not whether war will come, but when…”.

The idea that Sweden’s government would deliberately expose its own country and population to an increased risk of war sounds absurd. Yet let us take a closer look at what adopting the memorandum’s proposal could actually mean.

Imagine that tensions between the EU and Russia escalate and move closer to the Baltic region. If a NATO country wanted to use Swedish ports and air bases to launch attacks against Russia, the Swedish government could authorize it. Missiles could then be launched toward Russia from Gotland, Uppsala, or Boden, and combat aircraft could take off from Swedish airfields.

All decisions regarding the attacks would be made by another country. Sweden would have delegated the authority.

Swedish soldiers would not participate, and Swedish weapons would not be used. But if attacks were launched from Swedish territory, Russia could respond by striking targets in Sweden. Swedes would thereby become pawns that can be sacrificed whenever the government wishes to demonstrate its loyalty to NATO and the EU. It is no longer enough to give away taxpayers’ money and military equipment—now Swedish lives may be placed at risk as well.

Processed at Record Speed

Despite the proposal’s serious implications, the work surrounding the memorandum has taken place with as little public attention as possible.

The process began with a memorandum from the Ministry of Defence in October 2025, which was circulated to a limited number of consultation bodies—primarily government agencies connected to the defense sector. The only peace organization invited to comment was the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society (Svenska Freds- och Skiljedomsföreningen).

The Swedish Parliament is scheduled to vote on the proposal as early as Monday, June 15. If approved, the legislation will enter into force on August 1, 2026.