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Swedish Defense Minister Opens Door to Nuclear Weapons on Swedish Soil During Wartime

Key Points
  • Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson says nuclear weapons on Swedish soil cannot be ruled out during wartime.
  • Sweden has a peacetime agreement not to place nuclear weapons on its territory, but no similar wartime agreement exists.
  • The statement follows earlier discussions by the Sweden Democrats party about nuclear weapons in gray zone situations.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson has stated that nuclear weapons on Swedish soil cannot be ruled out during wartime, according to reports from Sveriges Radio Ekot. The minister told the radio station that in the event of war, Sweden would consider all options to ensure the country's survival and security. "Should war come, we will have openings for everything that can secure Sweden's survival and Swedish security, of course," Jonson said.

Sweden currently has an agreement not to place nuclear weapons on its territory during peacetime, but no similar agreement exists regarding wartime situations. The statement comes after the Sweden Democrats party earlier in February opened for having nuclear weapons on Swedish soil in a gray zone situation where Sweden finds itself between war and peace.

If there were to be war, we would have openings for everything that can secure Sweden's survival and Swedish security naturally

Pål Jonson, Swedish Defense Minister

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