As the rest of Europe and in the world, Sweden continued to be affected by theCOVID-19 pandemic andDeltacron hybrid variant, but much less so than in January 2020 and February 2022. The2021–2023 inflation surge led to increased prices on many goods.
14 January -Operation Barkhane:Sweden announces that it will withdraw itstroops from aFrench-led special forces mission inMali later this year, in response to Mali's rulingmilitary junta inviting privateRussian military contractors to fightIslamist rebels. The deployment was originally expected to end in 2024.[3]
16 January - Military personnel from theSwedish Armed Forces are deployed to the island ofGotland in response to fears thatRussia may attempt an invasion of Swedish territory amidst tensions betweenNATO and Russia over their intention to invadeUkraine.[4]
24 January - The daily number of COVID-19 Deltacron infections has peaked in Sweden.[citation needed]
28 February -SwedishPrime MinisterMagdalena Andersson announces that the country will send military equipment, including anti-tank launchers, toUkraine, breaking with a doctrine of not sending arms to countries that are engaged in active conflict.[5]
15 May - Sweden's governingSocial Democratic Party approves the country joining NATO. The official government decision is expected in the coming days.[8]
In response,Russian PresidentVladimir Putin warns that Russia will react to the "expansion of military infrastructure" by NATO in Sweden andFinland, saying that "problems are being created for no reason at all. We shall react accordingly".[10]
5 July - All 30 members ofNATO have signed off on the accession protocols for the membership bids ofFinland andSweden, which is subject to unanimous approval by thecurrent members' legislative bodies.[16]
11 September - The2022 Swedish general election is held.[19] TheSweden Democrats had seen their strongest result to date and had overtaken the Moderates to become the second largest party with 20.6% of the vote. The result was confirmed after the election.[20]
1 October - TheSweden Democrats are allocated chairmanship of four parliamentary committees for the first time in the Riksdag with party secretaryRichard Jomshof appointed to head the justice committee.[22] The party also formed a deal with Moderate leaderUlf Kristersson to provide parliamentary support to a Moderate led government.[23]
18 November - Swedish authorities confirm intentionalsabotage as the cause of theNord Stream gas pipeline explosions after traces of explosives were found at the site of the leaks.[30]
