Sweden Aims to Expand Military by Recalling Former Officers up to Age 70
Sweden is reportedly preparing to recall thousands of former officers as part of a broader EU and NATO defense expansion drive. The move is being reported by public broadcaster SVT, which highlighted the efforts to increase the military’s capacity in light of regional security concerns.
Sweden plans to sharply raise the maximum conscription age for former military officers as part of a broad effort to expand its armed forces. The decision comes as the country commits billions to its military build-up, aligning with NATO’s strategy for increased defense spending. The government-appointed commission, tasked with addressing long-term military recruitment, suggests abolishing the current rule that removes former personnel from the military register after ten years without training. Under this proposal, officers with at least one year of active or reserve duty can remain eligible for call-up until the age of 70.
The proposal includes the reinstatement of thousands of names that were previously removed from the register due to the age cap of 47. This change is intended to bolster Sweden’s military forces, which it aims to nearly double to 115,000 by 2030, from 60,000 in 2023. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance defense capabilities in the wake of growing security concerns in the region.
NATO leaders recently agreed to raise the target for defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP, with 3.5% allocated directly to the military and the remainder directed toward broader security initiatives. This decision is part of the ReArm Europe program, which has been allocated a total of €800 billion. The move reflects a larger trend of increasing defense spending across European NATO member states, who assert they must boost their military readiness to counter perceived threats from Russia.
Sweden, which joined NATO in March 2024, has pledged to significantly expand its military forces. The country reinstated conscription in 2017 after a decade of volunteer-only service, citing regional security concerns. All parliamentary parties have also backed a pledge to allocate an additional 300 billion kronor for defense, on top of rising annual budgets.
The development underscores a broader trend of militarization among European NATO countries. These nations argue that increased defense spending is necessary to counter what they describe as a threat from Russia. However, Moscow has denied any such threat and has accused Western officials of stoking fear to justify soaring military spending and the decline in living standards across the continent.