Total defence
Total defence consists of military activities (military defence) and civil activities (civil defence) and consists of all activities necessary to prepare Sweden for war.
The Swedish Armed Forces has a leading role in the development of a modern total defence. Our main task is to defend Sweden and our allies against an armed attack. We shall promote Sweden’s security and safeguard Sweden’s territorial integrity. We shall also protect Sweden’s sovereign rights and national interests, as well as prevent conflicts and wars both nationally and internationally.
Total defence includes authorities, organizations, private individuals, and companies. This means that all inhabitants of Sweden are affected by total defence and are part of Sweden’s defence.
The will to defend ultimately concerns the awareness that all of us who live in Sweden are part of this country, and that we must also be prepared to do our part to uphold democracy and freedom for ourselves and one another. To defend and preserve our form of government is both an obligation and an opportunity. We must seize that opportunity.
In December 2024, the Swedish Parliament and Government decided on a new direction for total defence, that is, both military and civil defence, for the period 2025–2030. The capability of total defence needs to be further strengthened. Armed attack is the defining scenario for total defence. Total defence shall be able to respond to an armed attack both against Swedish land and sea territory and against NATO’s external borders, which means that Sweden is integrating its operational planning with that of the Alliance and adapting to a new threat environment. Sweden’s integration into NATO is a multi-year process of transformation, requiring Swedish authorities and society at large to take measures and carry out activities that create the conditions for, and enhance Sweden’s ability to contribute to, NATO’s core tasks.
If Sweden is attacked, the Armed Forces, supported by the rest of total defence, shall defend Sweden in accordance with Article 3, in order to gain time, freedom of action, and ultimately ensure the nation’s independence. Resistance shall be resolute and enduring. Through mutual support and cooperation between military and civil defence, the greatest possible defensive effect shall be achieved.
In the event of the risk of war or war itself, society must be able to quickly adapt to wartime conditions, carry out a national effort, and mobilize the military and civil resources that benefit the defence efforts. Therefore, the Armed Forces, in cooperation with relevant authorities and in dialogue with the business sector, shall develop supply security as a step to safeguard endurance.
The ability to act on intelligence is an important part of the development of total defence, including the capacity to handle hybrid threats. The broader threat landscape facing Sweden requires strengthened cooperation between security and intelligence services in order to ensure a good common situational awareness across the entire threat spectrum. Defence intelligence activities are conducted by the Armed Forces, the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA), the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), and the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). In addition, civil intelligence activities are carried out, primarily by the Swedish Security Service (Säpo).
In the direction set by Parliament and Government, there is an overarching goal for total defence:
“The overarching goal of total defence shall be to have the capability to defend Sweden and our allies against armed attack, and to safeguard our security, freedom, independence, and freedom of action. Activities within total defence shall be able to be conducted both independently and together with others, within and beyond the country.”
This overarching goal is complemented by specific goals for the military and civil defence respectively.