Sweden won't usage SAFE. Their minister's explanations seem to make sense

The discussion concerning SAFE is not only in Polish politics. We inactive don't know if president Charles Nawrocki will sign or veto the bill. It is known that Sweden will not benefit from a low-interest debt under the EU scheme. defence Minister Pal Jonson presented the reason.


The EU debt on favourable terms under the SAFE programme is not only discussed in our native backyard. Let us remind that it provides for EUR 150 billion of support for the modernisation of the army in the European Union. The funds are to be granted in the form of loans with low interest rates which will let the acquisition of military equipment. Will Poland benefit from SAFE – it is inactive unknown. But Sweden has already made a decision. Negative. And you know what the reason is.

Sweden will not benefit from SAFE. Minister of Defence explains

Minister of Defence of Sweden Pal Jonson in an interview with "Rzeczpospolita" explained why his country does not intend to usage SAFE. According to his translation, this has nothing to do with prejudice; Sweden can afford an even more attractive debt – and intends to usage it.

– We are not taking part in this programme not due to the fact that it is bad, but because, having the 3rd lowest debt in the European Union, we can borrow on global markets on more favourable terms than the Union itself. But we are besides borrowing to modernise the armed forces: by 2035 30 billion euro – Jonson said.

In the same conversation the politician besides commented on the issue of the war in Ukraine, which "certainly does not win Russia". Jonson pointed out that the Russians bear a immense cost: 300 000 killed and injured in 2025 (in the business of 0.7% of Ukraine territory), "Russian economy bleeds, deficit rises, state reserves melt, problems of the banking strategy increase". Swedish defence minister besides indicated that the aggressor did not carry out a crucial offensive on the front last year. As he pointed out, Russia "did not manage to take over any large city" or carry out the planned business of the full Donbass last year.

SAFE program is billions of dollars for Poland. Unless the president vetos the bill

However, let us return to SAFE, due to the fact that it is simply a subject that warms both sides of the Polish political scene. Our country would receive EUR 43.7 billion in the form of a favourable debt (interested at 3%). The usage of EU funds is criticised, among others, by PiS president Jarosław Kaczyński, who claims that "Poland is proposed to us under the German shoe", and the president "should veto it". Karol Nawrocki seems to have doubts, and the subject of SAFE was 1 of the agenda items of the National safety Council, which was convened by the head of state.

On the another side of the barricade is the Minister of abroad Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Radosław Sikorski, who on Sunday thundered about the "Russian trollownia". The politician had already denied the argument about SAFE conditionality, explaining this issue in the entry on X.

Will the billions from SAFE go to Poland? We inactive don't know. The Sejm passed the bill implementing the programme and the legislature accepted any of the proposed amendments. According to the first, the funds for the repayment of SAFE will not be included in the defence expenditure limit. The second assumes that the government will gotta study on the implementation of the programme in Parliament. Meanwhile, the 3rd 1 introduces control of the services over expenditure from the EU loan.

The draft will go back to the Sejm, and if Members vote on it as it stands, it will go to the President's desk. It is not known whether Karol Nawrocki will sign or veto the bill – as we described in detail, the decision has inactive not been taken.