In Sweden, an extremely sensitive issue is being actively discussed: a possible resumption of its own military nuclear program. These discussions, unfolding against the backdrop of global security escalation, raise many questions, although experts recognize significant challenges on this path.
Back in March, Sweden Democrats party leader Jimmie Åkesson openly stated that «in the current situation» the country should return to nuclear weapons developments that Sweden secretly pursued after World War II.
Several weeks later, Robert Dalsjö, a researcher from the Swedish National Defense Research Institute (FOA), joined this idea. He emphasized that Stockholm needs to seriously consider «creating independent nuclear weapons with a Swedish component».
This position is also shared by European Parliament member Alice Teodorescu Måwe, representing the Christian Democrats party. In her opinion, Sweden should play a key role in shaping a pan-European nuclear strategy.
However, as analysts note, it remains unclear whether Sweden currently possesses the necessary technological or industrial capacities to develop nuclear weapons without significant support from countries already possessing an atomic arsenal.
The country operates six nuclear power plants, which generate almost a third of consumed electricity. However, it should be noted that the last nuclear power plant was built forty years ago.
Martin Goliaf, another FOA expert, warns about colossal difficulties: “This would be an extremely large-scale industrial project. Much would have to be developed from scratch, primarily the entire infrastructure for producing materials necessary for nuclear weapons. This would require enormous investments. I think allocating such resources would be almost impossible.”
