STOCKHOLM, March.13 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Armed Forces will receive an additional 500 million SEK(55.7 million U.S. dollars) this year to help boost Sweden's defense, the Swedish government announced on Monday.
The government said this year's spending would be used for military and civil defense. A total 75 million SEK (8.4 million U.S. dollars ) will go to municipalities' and regional authorities' efforts to raise preparedness levels, including improving IT security and the defense against cyber attacks.
On the military side, a part of the money will go to returning air defense capabilities to the Baltic island of Gotland.
Micael Byden, the supreme commander of Sweden's Armed Forces, was quoted by Swedish Radio on Monday as saying that it was a "positive" move and that the increased funds will contribute to better preparedness, more military exercises and more military material.
Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist was quoted as saying that this broad agreement sends a "good signal to the Swedish people, a good signal to the armed forces and a good signal to the surrounding world".
