Total defence

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.

Germany is Sweden’s most important trading partner, and the world’s fourth-largest economy. On Wednesday 6 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Stockholm for a meeting on regional security policy, total defence and cooperation between Sweden and Germany.

On Wednesday 6 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is to receive Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a bilateral meeting in Stockholm.

Joint statement by the Leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), Helsinki, 26 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.

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.

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).

The Government is investing more than SEK 5 billion to strengthen the Swedish Armed Forces’ anti-drone capabilities and expand JAS 39 Gripen capabilities. The investment in anti-drone capabilities will enable the Swedish Armed Forces to shorten its lead times by eight years. The previous 2036 deadline for final delivery will now be brought forward to 2028. This decision will also enhance the resilience of the combat air system in times of peace, crisis and war. It marks the first use of the funds allocated in the Spring Amending Budget for ‘opportune purchases’.

On 1–2 October, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin will observe the Rescue Borealis international rescue exercise 2025 taking place in Oulu, Finland. The exercise was initiated against the backdrop of the worsening security situation and is aimed at enhancing cross-border cooperation in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.

(New version) Security in Sweden’s neighbourhood has deteriorated dramatically in recent years. The Government is therefore carrying out the most sweeping modernisation of Sweden’s total defence since the end of the Cold War. In the Budget Bill for 2026, the Tidö Parties propose a new package for stronger civil defence. Funding will go towards better stockpiling of health care products, renovating Sweden’s protective shelters, building up new food contingency reserves and improving preparedness efforts of Sweden’s municipalities and regions. The Government proposes allocating SEK 3 billion to civil defence in 2026, SEK 4.2 billion in 2027 and SEK 4.6 billion in 2028. These proposals total approximately SEK 12 billion in 2026–2028.

(New version) The prevailing security situation is more serious than it has been in several decades, and Russia constitutes a multi-dimensional threat to Sweden. The Government is therefore implementing historic investments in defence. Together with previous budgetary expansions, appropriations increase by SEK 26.6 billion in the Budget Bill for 2026. This corresponds to an increase of 18 per cent over 2025. These proposals and increases broadly strengthen Sweden’s defence capability.

On 24–25 June, the NATO Summit took place in The Hague. Sweden was represented by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. The focus of the Summit was the serious security situation and the need for increased investment in deterrence and defence.