- Geographic Position: Sweden's location on the Scandinavian Peninsula, relatively far from the central European battlegrounds, made it less likely to become directly involved in the conflict.
- History of Neutrality: Sweden had a long-standing tradition of neutrality in European wars, dating back to the early 19th century. The Swedish government was determined to uphold this tradition and avoid becoming embroiled in another European conflict.
- Trade Dependency: Sweden's economy heavily depended on international trade, and the country wanted to maintain commercial relations with both sides of the conflict to protect its economic interests.
- Limited Resources: Sweden's military was relatively small and not well-equipped compared to the major powers involved in the war. Engaging in a conflict against any of the belligerents would have likely been disadvantageous for Sweden.
- German Pressure: Germany initially respected Sweden's neutrality as long as the country allowed German troop movements through its territory. This accommodation helped maintain Sweden's neutrality.
- Alliances and Diplomacy: Sweden had mutual defense agreements with Finland, Norway, and Denmark. While these alliances did not explicitly bind Sweden to join these countries in war, they acted as a deterrent to any potential aggressor.