War on the Rocks The Future of Sweden's Military with Chief of Defense Michael Claesson
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Apr 16, 2025 
General Michael Claesson, Chief of Defense of the Swedish Armed Forces, discusses Sweden's military transformation following NATO membership. He shares insights on modernizing, consolidating, and expanding Sweden's defense capabilities across land, sea, and air. Claesson highlights lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict, particularly in adapting strategic operations and enhancing technology. He also emphasizes fostering the next generation of military leaders and the importance of innovative defense practices to meet contemporary security challenges.
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Favorite Military Job Experience
- General Claesson's favorite job was leading a battalion-sized battle group in northern Afghanistan.
- He valued the commitment to his unit and the pre-deployment training interaction with soldiers.
NATO Changed Sweden's Defense Focus
- Joining NATO forced Sweden to zoom out on collective defense and shift its mindset toward integrated alliance defense.
- Sweden has rapidly contributed mechanized units, air policing, and naval forces to NATO missions within a year.
Sweden-Finland Security Relationship
- Sweden and Finland maintain close regional cooperation even inside NATO, complementing alliance planning.
- Geographic proximity preserves their special security relationship within the broader NATO framework.
