Hi all, to echo my slighty negative analysis (but realistic I’m afraid) on French Defense Strategy and Western Europe armies capabilities in general, let me share with you a very refreshing and insightful Podcast from « War on the Rocks« 

In a 25 mn interview Paul Johnson, Sweden’s defence minister, explains in a crisp and clear way the Swidish defense strategy, its priorities, its clear focus on getting kits for Ukraine and for its army asap!

Although I did not go into the details to check everything, it looks to me like Sweden’s strategy has it all right: coherent, comprehensive, concrete, pragmatic, realistic.

As often so called « small » countries can be doing great things and have a lot to teach to bigger ones. If you have a chance listen to the pod. And read my few highlights & comments below.

Getting Faster, Stronger, Ready: Sweden’s Defense Minister on Reform and Resolve

A few quotes from the interview, which give the tone:

« Two clear priorities: defend Sweden and support Ukraine »
« Every thing we do for Ukraine, we do in weeks and in months, cutting the red tape learning from the Ukrainiens »
« 9BUSD of support to Ukraine « 
« Focus on what can be done in zero to 24 months »
« We learnt a lot by doing quick acquisitions and quick procurement »
« Lean design, procurement and delivery process »
« 5 years ago we had little money but plenty of time… now we have much more money but very little time »
« Now if about how you transform economic clout -ie money – in combat power »
« It’s about time, performance and costs ; need to deliver in time, not in 5 or 10 years »
« Main purpose of our defense industry: make sure we have the best weapons in the hands of our soldiers as soon as possible »
« The Gordian knot is how do we actually increase combat power »
« Need to break the cost curve and the time curve, especially in land domain »
« I welcome new (industrial) actors to come in to Sweden… »
« Time now has sharpened the mind, need to change the structure and the culture »

Table below is a short summary of defense effort from the Nordics countries

This quick and dirty summary from ChatGPT shows how serious Nordics are when it comes to military spending. This is more or less double of what France is doing if we consider conventianal forces only (+/- 1.5% GDP vs +/-3% for Nordics).

The insistance on time, urgency, emergency is absolutely lound and clear.
He clearly states that everything beyond 5 – 10 years is irrelevant. And he is absolutely right. Totally opposite the the French passion for « too last too expensive too little » programs like SCAF fighter or MGCS tank which in my view should be paused so focus can be put on what has to be done within 5 years or less. Next war, if it happens, will be faught with existing fighters, tanks, guns and missiles.
Focus has to be on piling up ammunitions for existing kits!

The « customer orientation » to gettings « the best weapons in the hands of our soldiers as soon as possible » is obvious one the one side, but needs to be reminded on the other as this is clearly not what French and even US defense industries are doing.
Not trying to kill 10 birds with a little stone. Getting the kits from wherever as long as they are cheap, quick and in quantity.
Priority has to be on results for the army NOW, as opposed to unclear industrial policies, talking a lot but not placing purchase orders and achieving only at best to keep a bureaucray of sleepy engineers busy, certainly not to fulfil army urgent needs.

Not making philosophy about military service either, trying to meet social, educational and other contradictory targets. Sweden has a reserve double the one of France thanks to coherence in its military service at the service of the army, and thus it don’t have the double challenge to not have the people on top of not having the weapons.

Paul Johnson also faces and acknowledges the reality the Europe does not have enough ground forces and enough depth to sustain a long effort, typically to defend Baltic coutrnies. And it is acting to change that as part of Nato and Northern Europe joint effort.
There again i wish my country would have the same honesty « to see what it sees » rather that living in the nostalgia of its overseas empire, pretenting to be present in the Middle East, in Africa, in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and in the end being really nowhere. Back to priorities. The number topic now is Europe, time to wake up and stop dreaming of romantic adventures.

Last but not least, values. Personally I loved when Paul said that « it’s necessary to read a lot to develop new ideas » and that the last honest job he had was reasarcher: curiosity and humility as opposed to arrogance and complecency (sorry but this is so true).

To conclude and as take away I tried in the below table to summarise the 12 key success factors of Sweden’s defense strategy, so that others can get inspiration from them. A kind of Christmas gift if you’re willing to unwrap it!

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