Efforts to strengthen Sweden’s security

(New version) The Government has now presented a Total Defence Bill for the period 2025–2030. It includes substantial reinforcements of the total defence. Additional funding over SEK 170 billion will be allocated to the military defence and SEK 37.5 billion to the civil defence through 2030. These are historically large investments. Defence expenditures will therefore already reach 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2028.

Mr Pål Jonson, Minister for Defence, Sweden, today had a bilateral meeting with Ms Jana Černochová, Minister for Defence, Czech Republic, during the security conference GLOBSEC Forum, which is taking place from 30 August to 1 September in Prague. A Joint Declaration on the Enhancement of Defence Cooperation was signed.

On Tuesday, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin signed a Letter of Intent on strengthened defence cooperation between Sweden and Moldova.

The security situation has deteriorated in both the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions in recent years. When Japan’s Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara met with Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson in Stockholm on 25 July, discussions included deepened cooperation to tackle these challenges.

On 12 July, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson signed a Letter of Intent concerning security cooperation between Sweden and the U.S. state of New York. The cooperation will be mainly between the Swedish Armed Forces and the New York National Guard as part of the United States’ State Partnership Program (SPP).

The Government has adopted Sweden’s new national security strategy, which includes five guiding principles for management of Sweden’s security. It constitutes the framework for the Government’s work on national security until 2030.

Based on our national security interests, the international situation and Sweden’s strength and assets, this strategy establishes that safeguarding Sweden’s national security is the Government’s most important task and top priority. Sweden must rapidly strengthen its capability to prevent and deal with the various threats and risks that are described in this strategy.

Innovative emerging and disruptive technologies that benefit defence and security are of central importance amid the intensifying political, ideological and economic tensions shaping the international situation. The Government is now presenting a strategic approach for defence innovation that collects and clarifies political ambitions and measures going forward. This strategic approach creates conditions to accelerate and mutually strengthen innovation in the military and civilian sectors, contributing to Sweden’s defence capability and innovative capacity, increased competitiveness and enhanced security.

On 5 March, Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius signed a letter of intent on deeper defence cooperation between Sweden and Germany.

On 5 March, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson received his German counterpart Boris Pistorius.

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.

In a referral to the Council on Legislation, the Government proposes amending the legislation on Swedish citizenship. The proposals entail stricter requirements on acquisition of Swedish citizenship by notification and better protection for children and adults in vulnerable situations. 

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström at the Folk och Försvar (Society and Defence) Annual National Conference in Sälen, Sunday 7 January. Check against delivery.

From 1 to 8 December, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson is visiting the United States to take part in the Reagan National Defense Forum, promote Swedish defence innovations and industry, and strengthen bilateral cooperation with the US.

Damage to cables and pipelines in the Baltic Sea has been discovered recently on multiple occasions. The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) will increase its presence to help improve protection of critical underwater infrastructure in the region. Sweden will provide two corvettes.

Today, the Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) agreed to activate a JEF Response Option. This includes maritime and air capabilities which will deploy across the JEF’s core region as a military contribution to the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.

On Friday 13 October, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hosted a Summit in Visby attended by heads of state and government within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) regional defence cooperation partnership. At the Summit, the leaders discussed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, stronger cooperation with NATO and the countering of hybrid threats. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part via video link.

Address to the nation by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson following violent incidents in the country, Stockholm, Thursday 28 September 2023. Check against delivery.

Sweden is currently facing the most serious security situation since the Second World War. This places new demands on military defence.

In light of the serious security environment, the Government has proposed a number of investments in civil defence and crisis preparedness in the Budget Bill for 2024 and the autumn amending budget for 2023.