Sweden's military buildup stalls as new regiments remain unbuilt

Sweden's military rearmament has stalled, with no construction started on new regimental areas six years after parliament's 2020 decision, leaving soldiers in temporary facilities. Colonel Joakim Karlquist in Östersund confirmed not a single tree has been felled for the planned I21 regiment. Of the four new regimental areas mandated in Östersund, Sollefteå, Falun, and Kristinehamn, only Kristinehamn has begun construction, with completion expected by 2029. Delays stem from detailed planning, environmental reviews, appeals, and geological issues like swelling shale in Östersund, forcing new site investigations. The Swedish Fortifications Agency acknowledges the slow planning phase and seeks to shift from sequential to parallel processes. New facilities in Östersund are estimated for 2033-2034, and Falun's by 2035 at best, though officials cannot guarantee these timelines.