Survey Shows Immigrants More Willing to Defend Sweden Than Native-Born Citizens

A recent survey conducted by the Järvaveckan foundation in collaboration with Indikator Opinion reveals that immigrants in Sweden demonstrate a higher willingness to defend the country compared to native-born Swedes. According to the survey, 56% of foreign-born individuals are willing to risk their lives for Sweden, compared to 48% of native-born Swedes. Among young people aged 18 to 29, the difference remains significant, with immigrants showing a greater readiness to fight than their Swedish counterparts.

Ahmed Abdirahman, chairman of Järvaveckan, explains that many immigrants, particularly those who have experienced war and conflict firsthand, inherently value Sweden’s democracy and stability. The data also shows a nuance regarding the second generation: only 41% of young people born in Sweden to immigrant parents expressed willingness to defend the country, a figure Abdirahman links to feelings of exclusion within this group. He advocates for government action to promote inclusion and strengthen the defense willingness, especially among youth in vulnerable areas.

Another analysis highlights the political ramifications of these findings. Henrik Jalalian notes the irony that immigrants, many born outside Europe and often targeted by the current Tidö government’s deportation policies, show the highest willingness to defend Sweden. The article points out that this contrasts sharply with the Sweden Democrats’ (SD) skeptical stance on immigrants and defense. It further criticizes SD for having members connected to Russian propaganda and questions the party’s alignment given recent geopolitical tensions, including references to Donald Trump's threats to Greenland.

An immigrant quoted in the commentary expresses deep gratitude toward Sweden for opportunities and affirms a strong commitment to defending the country. This lends a personal dimension to the survey’s statistics, underscoring that the immigrants’ readiness stems from appreciation and a desire to protect their adopted home.

These insights call for reflection on the political narrative and the importance of inclusion policies. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is urged to acknowledge immigrants’ contributions and willingness to defend Sweden at the forthcoming Folk och Försvars conference. The survey challenges prevailing assumptions about national defense attitudes and highlights the crucial role immigrant communities play in Sweden’s security outlook.