When Sweden joins NATO, it will help the alliance address its vulnerability in northwestern Europe in the Baltic Sea, which shares a water border with Russia and is a barrier to access to the ports of eight nations, including Germany.
Sweden's key to keeping its waters navigable in times of conflict is its submarine fleet, which includes some of the most potent submarines ever built; Sweden has three modern Gotland-class submarines and one older model, which will be "retired" when two modern A26 submarines are delivered in 2027 and 2028, bringing Sweden's submarine fleet to 5.
