Copyright © Hans Högman 2022-06-21
DCA - Defence
Cooperation Agreement
DCA
DCA, Defense Cooperation Agreement, is a
bilateral military cooperation agreement between
Sweden and the United States.
The DCA deepens the defense cooperation between
Sweden and the United States and regulates the
conditions for the presence of American forces in
Sweden.
On December 5, 2023, Swedish Minister of Defense
Pål Jonson (M) signed a military cooperation
agreement with the United States, known as the DCA.
In order to enter into force, the agreement requires
the approval of the Swedish Parliament (by a two-
thirds majority). The
agreement was submitted
as a bill to the Parliament
on 8 May 2024 (Prop.
2023/24:141).
The agreement has
nothing to do with NATO.
The The image shows
Sweden's Minister of Defense Pål Jonson and US
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the signing of
the DCA on 5 December 2023. Image: Wikipedia.
The agreement gives the US access to 17 Swedish
army, air and naval bases and training areas,
parts of which are reserved exclusively for the US.
Any construction work within the exclusive areas will
be at US expense.
The DCA also gives the US access to Swedish airports
and ports and the right to store US material in
Sweden. However, the US forces must declare the
type of material they bring into Sweden. The
agreement also regulates the legal status of US
personnel in Sweden, which means that US military
personnel who are here are not subject to Swedish
laws but to US laws. This means that any crimes
committed in Sweden are dealt with by the US judicial
system.
The agreement states that all activities carried out
under the DCA must be done with full respect for
Swedish sovereignty, Swedish laws and international
obligations.
Swedish Parliament approves the agreement
On June 18, 2024, the Swedish Parliament approved
the implementation of the DCA. 266 members voted
in favor and 37 voted against. 46 members were
absent.
There was thus broad support in the Parliament
(Riksdag) for the agreement, with six out of eight
parties in favor. Only the Left Party and the Green
Party entered reservations. The agreement is valid for
10 years and then continues to apply until one party
terminates the agreement with 1 year's notice (Article
30).
The aim of the agreement is to enable the United
States to come to Sweden's aid quickly in the event of
a crisis.
According to the government, it also facilitates
NATO's ability to defend the Baltic States and Finland.
The agreement with Sweden gives the USA:
•
Access to Swedish bases.
No new US bases will be established, but the US
will have access to existing facilities. However, the
US can construct its own buildings on the
bases.Tillgång till svenska baser.
•
Military personnel will be able to stay in Sweden
temporarily, but no permanent personnel.
•
Subject to US law.
The US forces shall be subject to US law.
The 17 military facilities in Sweden included in the
agreement:
1.
Kiruna
2.
Boden
3.
Vidsel
4.
Luleå
5.
Härnösand
6.
Östersund
7.
Älvdalen
8.
Uppsala
9.
Kristinehamn
10.
Berga
11.
Såtenäs
12.
Kvarn
13.
Visby
14.
Halmstad
15.
Ronneby
16.
Revingehed
17.
Ravlunda
Sweden's neighboring countries
Similar agreements already exist in Norway, Denmark
and Finland. Finland has recently concluded an
almost identical agreement and has listed 15 sites
and areas, Lithuania 13, Norway 12, and Denmark,
Estonia and Latvia each 3. Norway has recently
increased the number of areas from 4 to 12.
