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On Sunday, Sweden's Liberal Party leader Johan Pehrson advocated for the establishment of permanent NATO bases in Sweden following the country's accession to the alliance.

Pehrson emphasized that this move aims to enhance the security of the Swedish people, particularly at a time when "external threats to Sweden are a significant concern."

He stated, "It should be clear that this is a way to bolster Sweden's security in the face of potentially serious threats from the outside world. As we become a part of NATO, our responsibilities in our region will change, necessitating the establishment of permanent NATO bases," in an interview with Sveriges Radio.

Furthermore, Pehrson expressed his support for the continuous presence of NATO forces in Sweden during times of peace, emphasizing the "importance of safeguarding freedom."

Earlier in June, the Swedish Prime Minister and Defense Minister confirmed that Sweden may allow  NATO to deploy troops on its territory even before it formally joins the US-led military alliance.

"The government has decided that the Swedish Armed Forces may undertake preparations with NATO and NATO countries to enable future joint operations," Kristersson and Jonson indicated in an opinion piece in the daily Dagens Nyheter.

"The preparations may consist of temporary basing of foreign equipment and personnel on Swedish territory. The decision sends a clear signal to Russia and strengthens Sweden's defense," they pointed out.

They considered that for the foreseeable future, Russia would allegedly "remain a threat" against neighboring countries, adding that they were uncertain of the extent of Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged "territorial ambitions".

In May 2022, both Sweden and Finland submitted their applications to join NATO, following Russia's military operations in Ukraine.

Finland has already become a NATO member as of April 2023, whereas Sweden's application is still awaiting ratification by Hungary and Turkey.