U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Calvert L. Worth Jr., the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, center-right, and Sgt. Maj. Anthony J. Loftus, the sergeant major of II Marine Expeditionary Force, center-left, greet Swedish armed forces members during exercise Burmese Chase 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 12, 2025. Burmese Chase is an annual U.S. led, multi-lateral training exercise comprised of integrating ground and air fires, infantry tactics and naval gunfire alongside NATO allies to enhance combat readiness and interoperability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Marc Imprevert) (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out faces.)

Sweden’s Christian Democrats want all young people leaving gymnasium to complete either military or civil conscription training lasting at least two to five months. The proposal would expand the current conscription system to many more people and massively scale up civil service, with more public institutions receiving conscripts.

Party leader Ebba Busch argues the plan would strengthen both national defense and social cohesion, presenting compulsory service as a way to bridge Sweden’s political and social conflicts. The proposal comes as defense and conscription are becoming larger issues ahead of Sweden’s 2026 election campaign.

Read the entire piece in Omni.