The troubled international situation continues to affect Sweden’s national security. There is a risk that the serious security situation could deteriorate further, and that this could happen in a way that is difficult to predict.

Therefore, it is important that we follow developments, assess individual incidents and are attentive to any gradual deteriorations. Together, we will continue to strengthen security and resilience, cooperating both nationally and internationally.

The troubled international situation continues to affect Sweden’s national security. There is a risk that the serious security situation could deteriorate further, and that this could happen in a way that is difficult to predict. Therefore, it is important that we follow developments, assess individual incidents and are attentive to any gradual deteriorations. Together, we will continue to strengthen security and resilience, cooperating both nationally and internationally.

To strengthen Sweden’s national security, we must have a solid understanding of the significance of global developments, the impact of national and international events on the threat to Sweden, and we must work together to strengthen Sweden’s national security. National security and core democratic values are being challenged in a troubled international environment and deteriorated security situation. Foreign powers are using hybrid activities to destabilise Sweden, and Europe in general. Even though democracy in Sweden is strong, we must be vigilant regarding developments of wide-spread anti-government narrative and conspiracy theories that, in the long run and worst case, could develop into subversive activities.

It is important that we do not normalise the new situation. The development in Sweden, and globally, shows just how complex and difficult it is to assess these threats and how they increasingly overlap and intertwine. In the past few years, we have seen that large-scale political events and conflicts between other countries have also been manifested in Sweden. Foreign powers use our open society to divide, create turmoil, or carry out acts of violence that do not always target Sweden as a country, but other countries’ interests in Sweden. Sweden’s accession to NATO increases our security, but may also entail a changed and increased intelligence interest in Sweden, mainly from Russia.

Prepared to act

In the past few years, various incidents have occurred, such as cyber attacks, data breaches, drone incursions, and the high-profile incidents of cable damage in the Baltic Sea. It is important that we are attentive to what is happening and that we are prepared to act when necessary. At the same time, we need to remain calm and, as far as possible, try to find out the facts. Jumping to conclusions will risk benefiting the forces that want to harm Sweden.

A deteriorated situation increases the pressure on the Swedish Security Service and the Swedish Police Authority, which are the government agencies with the authority to act in peace-time. Therefore, we are pleased that an inquiry leader will soon present a report outlining how the Swedish Armed Forces might be able to assist law-enforcement agencies to a greater extent than is possible today. Since August 2023, the terrorist threat level in Sweden has been high, at level four on a five-level scale. In January of this year, I took the decision that this level would remain unchanged. Although the propaganda of international terrorist organisations does not focus on Sweden as a prioritised target for attacks to the same extent any longer, the threat remains complex. The Swedish Security Service has noted tendencies of a diversified terrorist threat which partly concern the ideologically motivated threat from violent Islamists and violent right-wing extremists and partly concern young people who have been radicalised online and who are mainly fascinated by acts of violence.

The diversified terrorist threat also involves activities in Sweden and Europe where countries such as Russia and Iran are the instigators behind this, and induce individuals, often young people, to carry out acts of violence that can be classified as terrorism or, in a European context, sabotage. In some cases, this is a matter of disposable agents who are recruited and instructed through social platforms to carry out single acts or missions. Often nobody cares what happens with them once the job has been done. A similar modus is being used by serious organised crime operations in Sweden.

Threats to Sweden may also concern access to research, innovation, and natural resources. In our globalised world, international cooperation and exchange are important and necessary, also for developing Sweden’s capabilities and welfare. However, this must happen in a balanced way and with a well-developed security awareness. Sweden’s know-how must not be used to increase foreign powers’ capability, e.g., for military purposes. An important part of our work as a national security service is engaging in dialogue with others to raise their awareness and knowledge of threats and vulnerabilities, so that they will be able to take adequate measures. We therefore engage in continual efforts to reach out to Swedish higher education institutions, industries and businesses.

Focus on security work

The serious security situation increases the need for protection. Sweden’s accession to NATO and the building up of total defence are important steps towards increased security and resilience in Sweden. That said, we know that there have been previous shortcomings in protective security and that strengthening total defence may entail new vulnerabilities and interdependencies. Therefore, we must continue to focus on security work. Our work in this regard is mainly focused on security-sensitive activities. However, the threats concern all critical infrastructure. Everyone must prioritise protective security for us to be able to build resilience.

Technological development and digitalisation create huge opportunities that Sweden, of course, must embrace. However, building security and resilience also requires an awareness of the threats and vulnerabilities that technological developments and digital isation entail.

Cyber attacks are an important tool for foreign powers. They are used to target individuals, but they are also used to build anonymisation networks to conduct attacks that are difficult or impossible to attribute to the actors behind them.

Relevant legislation is essential

Relevant legislation is essential for us to be able to carry out our work as a national security service in the best way possible. In the past few years, some legislation concerning protective security, for instance, has been developed and improved. Another example is the new act on foreign direct investment. As a result, we have increased our capability to reduce vulnerabilities and to handle the threats directed at Sweden.

However, legislation has not kept up with technological developments. This means, for instance, that the Swedish Security Service is not able to handle information in a way that is required to cope with the current threat. This spring, an ongoing inquiry will present a proposal for how the Swedish Security Service could, in the future, collect, process and retain information in a manner more suited to the purpose.

Cooperation important

In serious times, the need for cooperation is even more important. Strong cooperation with national and like-minded international partners is essential to create an accurate situational assessment, and to be able to act when necessary. With an increasingly complex threat, existing cooperation must be strengthened and new forms of cooperation have to be established.

Work at the Swedish Security Service is marked by the serious security situation and the importance of our remit. Every day, our staff faces difficult questions and has to take decisions despite incomplete information. Many things must be handled promptly, while other matters require patience and persistence. Also internally, we have to work in new ways to cope with the increasingly complex threat. Together, we will rise to the challenge, using all the knowledge and experience brought together at the Swedish Security Service.