Sweden and the US hold a joint military exercise in April 2023.
2023年4月，瑞典和美国举行联合军事演习。
By Hu Bo
胡波
Since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a resolution approving Sweden's accession to NATO on January 25, defense cooperation between Sweden and NATO countries has been accelerating. Recently, Sweden signed a defense cooperation agreement with France and has been increasing military integration with other NATO countries. Analysts believe that these developments will harm the security environment in Europe.
自土耳其总统埃尔多安于1月25日签署决议批准瑞典加入北约以来，瑞典与北约国家的防务合作不断提速。近期，瑞典与法国签署防务合作协议，并不断提升与北约其他国家的军事融合度。分析人士认为，相关动向将对欧洲地区安全环境产生负面影响。
Defense cooperation accelerates
防务合作不断提速
Recently, Sweden has been pushing forward defense cooperation with NATO countries by taking advantage of the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron.
近期，瑞典以法国总统马克龙到访为契机，持续推进与北约国家的防务合作。
Sweden deepens defense cooperation. On January 31, Sweden and France signed a new strategic agreement to strengthen cooperation in anti-tank and air defense fields, in which multinational manufacturers such as the European group MBDA and Swedish defense company Saab will participate. In the short term, the two countries will focus on providing the Akeron MP anti-tank missile system developed by MBDA to their respective armed forces. In the long term, both parties are considering developing new models of the aforementioned anti-tank missiles to enhance their advanced capabilities, including beyond-line-of-sight shooting capability.
深化防务合作。1月31日，瑞典与法国签署一项新的战略协议，两国将加强在反坦克和防空领域的合作，跨国制造商欧洲导弹集团和瑞典防务企业萨博集团将参与其中。从近期看，两国将重点向各自武装部队提供欧洲导弹集团研发的“阿克戎”反坦克导弹系统。从远期看，双方还考虑开发上述反坦克导弹的新型号，以使其具备先进能力，包括超视距射击能力。
Sweden accelerates the accession process. After Türkiye approved Sweden's accession to NATO, only Hungary has yet to approve Sweden's NATO membership. Recently, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that he would meet with the Hungarian Prime Minister at the appropriate time and expressed confidence that the Hungarian Parliament's completion of the ratification process for Sweden's accession would lay a solid foundation for advancing bilateral relations.
加速入约进程。在土耳其批准瑞典加入北约后，目前仅剩匈牙利未批准瑞典的北约成员国资格。近期，瑞典首相克里斯特松称他将在合适时机与匈牙利总理会面，并表示，匈牙利议会完成瑞典入约批准程序，将为推进双边关系奠定坚实基础。
Sweden helps the US in the Arctic competition. Recently, the US and Sweden signed a new defense cooperation agreement, allowing unhindered access for the US to 17 military bases in Sweden. The Swedish government said that the agreement paves the way for US military operations in Sweden, including the legal status of US military personnel, entry into deployment areas, and pre-deployment of military equipment. The defense cooperation agreement between the two countries aims to accelerate bilateral military cooperation, promote strategic deployment in the Arctic, and compete for Arctic resources and strategic advantages. This may further exacerbate military confrontation between NATO and Russia in the Nordic direction.
协美争夺极地。近期，美国和瑞典签署新的防务合作协议，美国可不受阻碍地进入瑞典17个军事基地。瑞典政府称，该协议为美军在瑞典行动铺平了道路，包括美国军事人员的法律地位，进入部署区和预先部署军事物资等。两国签署防务合作协议，旨在加快双边军事合作，推动北极地区战略部署，争夺极地资源及战略优势，这将使北约与俄罗斯在北欧方向的军事对抗或将进一步加剧。
Security environment may deteriorate
安全环境或将恶化
Sweden's strengthening of defense cooperation with NATO countries such as France aims to enhance regional defense discourse. In the future, Sweden may use accession as an opportunity to push for new heights in military cooperation with NATO countries.
瑞典强化与法国等北约国家的防务合作，旨在提升地区防务话语权。未来，瑞典或将以入约为契机，推动与北约国家的军事合作达到新高度。
First, strengthen interaction with the US. On February 1, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Thom Tillis issued a joint statement calling on Hungary to quickly approve Sweden's accession application to NATO. The Orban government had previously indicated support for Sweden's accession to NATO but hoped that Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson would visit Hungary before that.
一是强化与美互动。2月1日，美国民主党籍联邦参议员珍妮•沙欣与共和党籍联邦参议员汤姆•蒂利斯发布联合声明，呼吁匈牙利尽快批准瑞典入约申请。欧尔班政府此前表示将支持瑞典加入北约，但希望瑞典首相克里斯特松能够在此之前访问匈牙利。
Second, exacerbate the European crisis. Swedish Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin mentioned at an annual defense conference that Sweden has not had a war for nearly 210 years, but in the foreseeable future, Sweden may face the outbreak of war. Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson issued a similar warning, stating that the possibility of Sweden being attacked by armed forces cannot be ruled out. Gen. Micael Bydén, Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces, said that all Swedes should be mentally prepared for the possibility of war, as Sweden is about to become a NATO member.
二是渲染欧洲危局。瑞典民防大臣博林在一场年度防务会议上提到，瑞典已经近210年没发生战争，在可预见的未来，瑞典可能会爆发战争。瑞典国防大臣琼森发出类似警告，称不排除瑞典遭到武装袭击的可能性。瑞典三军总司令毕登表示，所有瑞典人都要为可能发生战争做好心理准备，理由是瑞典即将成为北约成员国。
Third, become a pivot of confrontation. With Sweden's imminent accession to NATO, and the continued alignment of Nordic countries with the US and NATO, the buffer zone between NATO and Russia will gradually disappear, and the militarization trend in the Arctic region will further intensify.
三是成为对抗支点。伴随着瑞典即将加入北约，以及北欧国家持续向美国及北约靠拢，北约与俄罗斯之间的缓冲地带将渐趋消失，北极地区军事化倾向将进一步加剧。
