Explained: Why isn't Sweden part of the Nato security alliance?

[Celerity]

2. we do not sell arms to enemies of Nato and the US, and certainly are not trading with Russia now

Article from Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Impact of Russian invasion on Swedish companies and foreign trade

https://government.se/articles/2022/03/impact-of-russian-invasion-on-swedish-companies-and-foreign-trade/

snip

Sweden’s trade with Ukraine

Some 90 Swedish companies are active in Ukraine and are now being hit very hard by the war. As a result of the invasion, many of the businesses have ceased their activities. The Government is closely monitoring developments and is regularly in direct contact with Swedish companies operating in Ukraine.

Swedish trade with Ukraine is limited and amounts to less than one per cent of Sweden’s exports and imports. The current assessment is that disruptions will not have a significant impact on society but that individual companies may be affected in the form of restrictions on input products or reduced sales. In general, the impact on Swedish industry is expected to be more indirect rather than direct, i.e. value chains via other countries.

Sweden’s trade with Russia

Russia is no longer an active trading partner of Sweden or of the EU. To date, four massive sanctions packages against Russia have been introduced by the EU and Sweden’s partners. Some 500 Swedish companies are active in Russia, including around 20 large companies and 13 400 employees in Swedish groups in the country (figures from 2019).

Trade with Russia has accounted for 1.3 per cent of Swedish exports. Sweden’s dependence on Russian imports is also low. One of the reasons for this is that Sweden’s energy sources are largely domestic. Sweden also has the EU’s lowest dependence on natural gas and so on Russian energy imports. But Swedish companies and consumers may still be affected by increased energy prices and other indirect trade effects.

Regarding the need for companies to find new supplier routes and trading partners, the Government can provide assistance through Business Sweden and Swedish government agencies. Business Sweden is now redirecting its operations to support Swedish companies to leave Russia. The Nordic Council of Ministers has also decided to suspend all cooperation with Russia and Belarus.