Sweden Rules Out Peacetime Nuclear Weapons but Considers Wartime Use

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Defense Minister Pål Jonson announced on February 27, 2026, that Sweden will not host foreign nuclear weapons on its soil during peacetime. Speaking from the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in Malmö, Kristersson stated that this position aligns with the doctrine reiterated when Sweden joined NATO. He noted that the presence of nuclear weapons held by European democracies is beneficial given Russia's nuclear capabilities in the region.

Despite the peacetime ban, Jonson and Kristersson both indicated that this policy could change if war breaks out. Jonson stated that Sweden would consider any measure necessary to ensure national survival and security during a conflict. These discussions occur as Stockholm engages with France and the United Kingdom regarding nuclear deterrence, while Denmark also expresses openness to hosting or co-financing nuclear projects.

Domestic political shifts are accompanying these discussions. The Sweden Democrats have expressed a willingness to scrap the 2023 agreement prohibiting nuclear deployment to allow for weapons during periods between peace and war, and the Liberal party has not ruled out wartime deployment. Russia has dismissed the threat of expanded deterrence as nonsense, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that Moscow would target any countries hosting nuclear arms aimed at Russia.