Investments in stronger military defence, measures against hybrid threats and increased support to Ukraine

The proposals were presented at a press conference on 26 March with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch, Minister for Education Johan Pehrson and Sweden Democrats Party Leader Jimmie Åkesson.

Long-term defence investments

In the coming months, NATO is expected to agree on a new defence spending target for its member countries. The new target is projected to be between 3 and 4 per cent of GDP. In order to manage such a major rearmament on short notice, the Government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed that Sweden will need to borrow funds during a transitional period to pay for new military expenditures without sacrificing important welfare needs or investments in internal security. 

If Sweden’s defence expenditures reach 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, it would entail a loan-financed defence investment totalling upwards of SEK 300 billion by 2034. The Government and the Sweden Democrats have agreed on a funding model where the majority of the funding would initially take place through loans that would gradually transition to a balance from 2035.

Increased support to Ukraine

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is a defining issue for Sweden’s and Europe’s security. The Government therefore intends to increase the adopted economic framework for military support to Ukraine from SEK 25 billion to just over SEK 40 billion for 2025. This enables Ukraine to swiftly boost its defence capability at a particularly vulnerable point in time. This increase will be made possible by redistributing funds from the 2026 Ukraine framework. 

Investments to strengthen military defence

The security situation demands that Sweden raises the level of ambition to strengthen its defence capability. The Government and the Sweden Democrats therefore intend to enable purchases of new defence materiel totalling SEK 25 billion from 2025, for delivery in 2026–2028. This concerns ‘opportune purchases’, i.e. orders that the Swedish Armed Forces or the Defence Materiel Administration can place when the market can relatively quickly fulfil the war organisation’s needs. This can include materiel for air defence, drones, rocket artillery, personal protective equipment and ammunition. 

In order to address potential uncertainties as regards the timing for the appropriation for defence materiel during the period 2026–2028, the Government intends to allow the relevant government agencies to utilise appropriation savings for opportune purchases.

New package to counter hybrid threats

The security situation has brought an increased risk of hybrid threats and activities. This is a threat scenario that the Government and the Sweden Democrats take very seriously and which must be addressed proactively – both at national level and in cooperation with other Allies and partners. The Government therefore proposes disbursing an additional SEK 96 billion in funding for 2025 for a new package to strengthen measures to counter hybrid threats. This package will strengthen the capabilities of the Swedish Coast Guard, The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and the Psychological Defence Agency to counter and manage hybrid threats in various domains, including the maritime and cyber domains. 

• The Government intends to allocate SEK 50 million to the Swedish Coast Guard to increase its operational capability for maritime surveillance and collaboration. 
  
  
• The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will be allocated SEK 20 million for its work within EU satellite navigation systems, which are a prerequisite for maritime and aeronautical access to strong navigational positioning and timing. 
  
  
•  A total of SEK 12 million will be allocated to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and the Psychological Defence Agency to enhance their efforts to counter hybrid threats. From those funds, SEK 9 million will go to the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency to contribute to the EU’s and NATO’s rapid reaction force through enhanced coordination of countermeasures against hybrid activities. The Psychological Defence Agency will receive SEK 3 million to assist the work of rapid reaction forces to counter foreign malign information influence and strengthen Sweden’s psychological defence.
  
  
• The national cybersecurity coordination centre (NCC-SE) at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will be allocated SEK 7 million for research and innovation in the area of cybersecurity.
  
  
• The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will be allocated SEK 7 million to coordinate joint efforts within total defence for stronger space security. 

These proposals are based on an agreement between the Government and the Sweden Democrats.