This study examines how continuity and change are expressed in the Swedish naval debate during the country’s transition to NATO membership (2020–2025). Using Elizabeth Kier theory of organizational culture, the study analyzes how values, attitudes, and underlying assumptions shape doctrinal development. A qualitative thematic analysis of articles from Tidskrift i Sjöväsendet identifies three key themes: forces resisting change, forces driving change, and processes of reinterpretation and gradual adaptation. The findings show that while NATO integration and a deteriorating security environment promote a shift toward collective defense and expanded operational roles, strong elements of continuity persist through professional identity, national doctrine, and material constraints. Change occurs primarily through cultural reinterpretation rather than abrupt transformation. The study contributes by highlighting how tensions between continuity and change are articulated in professional military debate, complementing existing research focused on policy and organizational structures.