(MENAFN) Sweden is preparing to significantly increase the maximum age for recalling former military officers for service, raising it from 47 to 70 as part of efforts to strengthen its armed forces, state broadcaster SVT reported on Sunday. This move aligns with the country’s broader military expansion plans, which involve billions of dollars in new defense spending.

Last month, NATO leaders agreed to raise the alliance’s defense spending target from 2% to 5% of GDP, with 3.5% earmarked for direct military expenses and the remainder for broader security initiatives. Brussels also introduced the €800 billion ($940 billion) ReArm Europe initiative.

According to SVT, a Swedish government-appointed commission recommended lifting the current rule that removes former personnel from the military registry after ten years without training. Under the new proposal, officers with at least one year of active or reserve service would remain eligible for recall until the age of 70. This change would restore thousands of names previously removed due to age restrictions.

The reform is part of Sweden’s broader plan to nearly double its military ranks from 60,000 in 2023 to 115,000 by 2030. Sweden, which joined NATO in March 2024, reinstated conscription in 2017 after nearly a decade of relying solely on voluntary service, citing growing regional security threats.

All political parties in Sweden’s parliament have backed an additional 300 billion kronor ($31.4 billion) in defense funding, on top of steadily increasing annual military budgets.

This move reflects a wider trend among European NATO members, who argue that higher defense spending is necessary to counter perceived threats from Russia. Moscow, however, has dismissed such claims, accusing Western leaders of exaggerating the threat to justify military build-ups and worsening living standards across Europe.

MENAFN15072025000045015687ID1109800954