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Sweden Boosts Defense Budget by 18% for 2026

9/15/2025

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Summary

Story summary

On September 15, 2025, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced a 26.6 billion crown ($2.87 billion) budget increase for armed forces in 2026.
This represents an 18% rise from 2025, aiming for defense spending of 2.8% of GDP.
Sweden plans to reach 3.1% of GDP by 2028.
Since 2022, the defense budget has increased by 100 billion kronor, the highest since the Cold War.
The budget bill will be submitted on September 22.

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Story summary

On September 15, 2025, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced a 26.6 billion crown ($2.87 billion) budget increase for armed forces in 2026.
This represents an 18% rise from 2025, aiming for defense spending of 2.8% of GDP.
Sweden plans to reach 3.1% of GDP by 2028.
Since 2022, the defense budget has increased by 100 billion kronor, the highest since the Cold War.
The budget bill will be submitted on September 22.