Combating terrorism

On 10 October 2025, the Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer received Iraq’s Minister of Interior. In connection with the visit, the two ministers signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on law enforcement cooperation, focusing on cross-border organised crime.

The EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is set to start operations on 12 October 2025. The Government has therefore decided that legislative amendments adapting Swedish law to the new system will start to apply on the same day.

The head of the Swedish Security Service has decided to lower the terrorist threat level from level 4 (‘high’) to level 3 (‘elevated’) on a five-level scale. The decision is based on a comprehensive assessment.

On 28 January, Sweden signed a bilateral law enforcement agreement with Colombia during Maria Malmer Stenergard’s visit to Colombia.

On 21 January 2025, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer travelled to Ankara to launch Sweden and Türkiye’s bilateral security dialogue, Security Compact. In talks with their Turkish counterparts, joint efforts to combat terrorism and cross-border organised crime and current international affairs were discussed.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer will travel to Ankara on 21 January to launch Sweden and Türkiye’s bilateral security dialogue, Security Compact. During the meeting the ministers will discuss security cooperation and international affairs.

Due to technical issues with Sweden’s state aircraft, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer were unfortunately re-directed back to Stockholm, Arlanda. This was purely a safety measure and neither passengers nor crew were in danger.

The Government has prepared a new comprehensive national strategy against violent extremism and terrorism and, in the budget, has prioritised measures that reinforce national security in order to provide a long-term focus for efforts in Sweden locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

In December, Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer held a meeting with representatives of a number of government agencies, academia and municipalities to discuss a new comprehensive strategy against violent extremism and terrorism. The Government had previously announced that a new strategy against violent extremism and terrorism would be drafted.

Brochure in pdf format presenting a new comprehensive national strategy against violent extremism and terrorism.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson and Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer, opinion piece, Dagens industri, 8 January 2024.

The Government has adopted a new comprehensive national strategy against violent extremism and terrorism. The Government is also tasking the Swedish Security Service, the Swedish Police, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and the Swedish Centre for Preventing Violent Extremism (under the auspices of the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention) with taking measures to incorporate the strategy into their activities.

Sweden is facing a deteriorating security situation, with an increased threat of attacks by terrorists and violent extremists. This situation requires additional measures, not least in efforts to prevent radicalisation and violent extremism. The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention will therefore be tasked with enhancing collaboration between government agencies and other relevant actors to prevent radicalisation and the spread of violent extremism. This assignment will be carried out as part of the activities of the Council’s Swedish Centre for Preventing Violent Extremism.

The Swedish Security Service has raised the terrorist threat level from level 3 (‘elevated’) to level 4 (‘high’) on a 5-level scale. In light of the deteriorating security situation, the Government is working intensively and constantly to take the necessary measures.

The Government has decided to appoint an Inquiry Chair to examine whether Sweden’s security could be considered when examining permit applications and setting conditions for public gatherings under the Public Order Act.

The reactions following the burning of copies of the Quran have led to a deteriorating security situation. The Government has therefore decided to task several government agencies with strengthening Sweden’s ability to prevent, avert and impede terrorism and violent extremism.

The Government has decided to refer proposals to the Council on Legislation. Under these proposals, it would be possible to withdraw a residence permit if it can be assumed that the person will carry out state-sponsored corporate espionage or activities related to terrorism.

Today, the Govern­ment proposed that participation in – and financing partici­pation in – a terrorist organisation should be a punish­able offence. This means that Sweden will have a new powerful tool to combat terrorism.

The Government has proposed that participation in – or financing participation in – a terrorist organisation should be a punishable offence. This would further strengthen the criminal law framework to counter the threat posed by terrorism.

On 26–27 January, Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer and Minister for Migration Maria Malmer Stenergard will lead the first informal ministerial meeting of the Presidency in Sweden. The agenda includes EU migration policy, the fight against organised crime and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.