Civil defence

Today, on Thursday 28 May, Ukraine announced its intention to purchase 20 Gripen E/F aircraft as a first step following the Letter of Intent signed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 22 October 2025. In conjunction with the sale, Sweden will donate up to 16 JAS 39 Gripen C/D aircraft from the Swedish Armed Forces’ current fleet, together with advanced ammunition. To replace these donated aircraft, new modern Gripen E/F aircraft will be procured for the Swedish Air Force, in addition to those previously ordered.

On 20–21 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The meeting focused on Sweden’s total defence, civil defence and resilience.

On Thursday 21 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for a bilateral meeting and joint visit focused on Sweden’s total defence, civil defence and resilience. In conjunction with the meeting, they will hold a joint press briefing in Revinge, Skåne.

Joint statement by the Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries and Canada, Oslo, 15 March 2026.

Sweden has signed a memorandum of understanding on protecting the civilian population of the Baltic Sea region and the Nordic countries, together with Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Poland.

Sweden has signed a memorandum of understanding on protecting the civilian population of the Baltic Sea region and the Nordic countries, together with Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Poland. This enables the temporary movement of people across borders in the event of crisis or, in the worst-case scenario, war.

Sweden aims to take a leading role in artificial intelligence. The Government is now presenting a new AI strategy with the aim of providing more effective government agencies, clearer rules for businesses and better conditions for research. The objective is for Sweden to be among the world’s top 10 countries in the field of AI.

Cyber attacks are one of the tactics used by Russia in its war against Ukraine. Sweden and Ukraine have now reached an agreement aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s resilience to cyber attacks, which also enhances Sweden’s capability to cope with sophisticated cyber threats.

Statement by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, prior to the Munich Security Conference, February 13 2026.

The Government envisions a resilient Sweden with a high level of cybersecurity, where essential public services can be maintained even when severe cybersecurity incidents occur. The National Cybersecurity Strategy is based on three pillars that set out the direction of Sweden’s cybersecurity efforts.

Speech by Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin, delivered at the Folk och Försvar Annual National Conference in Sälen on 11 January 2026. Check against delivery.

The Government has decided that the Swedish Armed Forces will expand its air defence capability. The Swedish Armed Forces will produce, train and equip a number of units within a future ground-based air defence that will protect combat units, military defence mobilisation capacity, population centres and civilian infrastructure. The total investment is worth approximately SEK 15 billion.

In a rapidly evolving security landscape marked by hybrid threats and geopolitical instability, civil preparedness and societal resilience have become strategic priorities for Europe. To strengthen cooperation and ensure preparedness for all security threats, including armed aggression, ministers responsible for civil preparedness and resilience from several EU member states convened for the second meeting of the European Coalition for Civil Preparedness and Resilience.

On 4 November, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson participated in a NATO conference on civilian planning, which Sweden hosted in Stockholm on 3–5 November. Sweden’s work with total defence was presented on several occasions at the conference, and contributed to discussions on improving civilian planning within NATO.

Strategic Partnership between Canada and Sweden. Signed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on 18 November 2025.

Canada and Sweden have entered into a Strategic Partnership, which was launched on 18 November, during the State Visit to Canada by Their Majesties The King and Queen. It builds on Canada and Sweden’s common interests and values, and will further deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation.

(New version) On 12–13 November, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin will be in Finland to meet with his Nordic counterparts in the Haga cooperation. The focus will be Nordic preparedness and expanded cooperation.

On 3–5 November, Sweden will host a NATO conference in Stockholm on civilian planning. At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague in June, NATO adopted a guidance to strengthen and develop Allies’ civilian planning efforts in support of the Alliance’s defence plans.

In early 2026, Sweden will host an international high-level conference on the future of civil defence. The conference will be held in Stockholm and organised together with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

On 20–22 October, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin will visit Tokyo, Japan. He will hold bilateral meetings to learn from Tokyo’s experience of preparing for and managing major crises such as earthquakes, and take part in a conference on international support for mine action projects in Ukraine.