Sweden's Moderates push for joint Nordic-Baltic air defence shield
Sweden's ruling Moderates propose a Nordic-Baltic air defence shield, integrating sensor data to counter missile and drone threats.
Sweden's ruling Moderates party has announced plans to build a common air defence shield for the Nordic-Baltic region if the right-wing coalition retains power in next month's election. Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard made the statement on Wednesday alongside her Latvian counterpart, Baiba Braze.
Stenergard stressed the need to link the region's separate air defence systems, enabling rapid target identification and more effective threat response. She said that comprehensive protection requires sharing sensor data to detect and counter ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, and other threats.
"This is crucial for our common security," Stenergard said, adding that the work would develop gradually but declined to give a timeline for when the shield might be operational.
The proposal comes as Sweden, which joined NATO in 2024 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine prompted a security policy rethink, increases defence spending alongside other European nations. The Moderates currently head a minority coalition that trails the centre-left opposition in opinion polls ahead of the September 13 parliamentary election.