Sweden has decided to reintroduce military conscription, the Scandinavian country is worried because of Russia. The decision means that 4,000 men and women will be called up for service from 1 January 2018, who will be selected among 13,000 young people born in 1999. Sweden brings back conscription to increase security.
In September, a Swedish garrison was restored to Gotland, a big island between the Swedish mainland and the three former Soviet Baltic states. Ms Nyh Radebo stated the return to conscription was prompted by the security changes.
She added that the Russian annexation of Crimea, the conflict in Ukraine and the increased military activity in the neighbourhood are some of the reasons. The BBC reports that the 13,000 who undergo the military tests will be a mixture of conscripts and volunteers.
Impact on regional security
Ms Nyh Radebo stated that 70% of parliament is behind the decision to increase the military and co-operation with the countries, the closest co-operation is with Finland. Sweden and Finland do not belong to Nato, but co-operate closely with the alliance. The Swedish recruitment system will be modelled on Norway's.
A Swedish government report on defence priorities states that recruitment of reserve squad leaders, soldiers and sailors has proved to be problematic. According to a 2015 research paper by Barbara Kunz of the IFRI Security Studies Center, Sweden has about 52,000 full-time military personnel.
Military service in other countries
France and the UK made their armed forces fully professional, France in 2001 and the UK in 1963. Germany suspended conscription in 2011, but there is a debate about reintroducing some type of national service. Turkey has conscription for all men over the age of 20, Greece and Cyprus also have conscription.
Denmark, Norway and Finland have limited conscription, but their forces are overwhelmingly professional. Estonia and Lithuania have similar recruitment policies. In Russia, all men aged 18-27 have to spend a year in the military.
Ukraine brought back conscription in 2014 because of Russia. In Switzerland, men have to serve periods in the armed forces from 19 to 34 years, and keep their equipment at home.
