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Two weeks ago Sweden hosted an American delegation led by the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) aiming to increase the interoperability and collaboration within the cyber domain.During the week, a Table Top Exercise (TTX) was executed. The TTX was initiated after the signing of the bilateral Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding a framework for an advanced cyber partnership. During the TTX, the participants explored needed coordination and collaboration as well as operational activities. The exercise was based on a fictitious scenario which included cyber attacks against critical systems in Sweden.”Together with the United States, now also as an ally, we have the opportunity to increase and develop the strategic and operational cooperation which will be of great value for the Swedish Armed Forces” says Major General Johan Pekkari, Cyber Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. “By working together on realistic but fictitious scenarios, we are enhancing our combined capability” he continues. Brigadier General James Cleet, Deputy Chief of Operations of U.S. European Command says:"As our adversaries seek to exploit the Allies’ inter-dependence on data, networks and critical infrastructure, we seek to outmaneuver these adversaries in the cyberspace domain. Bilateral interoperability exercises, such as the one executed by Sweden and the U.S., help to ensure operational success in cyberspace by increasing our speed, agility and unity of effort." The Swedish Armed Forces and USEUCOM cooperate in several forums and will continue to enhance and develop the cooperation bilaterally, trilaterally together with Finland, as well as within the NATO Alliance. Background In April 2024 the Swedish Armed Forces and U.S European Command (USEUCOM) signed a bilateral Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding a framework for an advanced cyber partnership. […]

On October 1st, CTF Baltic was established, a command staff with the purpose of leading NATO’s naval units operating in the Baltic Sea region, from the North Sea into the Baltic Sea and up to the Gulf of Bothnia. The staff headquarters is set up in the German port city of Rostock and is manned by personnel from NATO allies. Sweden is contributing nine officers.NATO's maritime operations are led from the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) headquarters in the United Kingdom. Due to an increasingly deteriorating security situation and Sweden's and Finland's accession to NATO, a need has arisen for clearer coordination of naval forces in the Baltic Sea and surrounding waters. The new command staff is called CTF Baltic and will be established in Rostock, Germany. – This is clear evidence that Sweden and Finland are strengthening NATO and the alliance's collective deterrence in our region. With CTF Baltic, we will be better coordinated and aligned when we operate jointly in the Baltic Sea," says Patrik Gardesten, Deputy Chief of the Swedish Navy. The staff in Rostock consists of personnel from allied nations around the Baltic Sea, and nine Swedish officers are present as of early October. The Swedish personnel will serve as NATO officers and operate through MARCOM. The Swedish officers will be in place for two years before rotating with new personnel. Over time, the Swedish contribution is expected to grow to about twenty people. – The Swedish Navy is already so well-trained and integrated into NATO that we can immediately contribute with qualified expertise. We know this area and understand how to best operate here, so it is natural that we are sending personnel to leading positions within NATO’s maritime staff, says Gardesten. CTF Baltic will lead NATO's activities in the area, while Swedish ships operating within a national context will continue to be led by the Swedish Armed Forces through the Naval Staff at Muskö. NATO has two standing maritime forces operating in our region: SNMG1, consisting of surface combat ships, and SNMCMG1, primarily focused on mine clearance. […]

On 30 September, General Michael Claesson took over as Sweden's new Chief of Defence at the handover ceremony at Karlberg Castle. This marked the completion of General Micael Bydén's nine-year tenure as Chief of Defence. A colour guard and the march of the honour guard, to the sound of a military band opened the ceremony, during which the symbol of the Chief of Defence's office – the command baton – was passed from Micael Bydén to Sweden's new Chief of Defence, Michael Claesson.  In front of the assembled of invited guests, comprising representatives of the Armed Forces, government agencies, and the Minister of Defence, General Michael Claesson said the first words in his new role as Chief of Defence, confirming the transition: "I take command!"  In his speech, he emphasized that he will continue to focus on the strengthening of the war organisation, and on creating conditions in order to be able to deliver on the coming Defence Resolutions in an effective and purposeful manner.   "We will continue our integration with NATO; we must be perceptive, but also act with confidence and clarity."  The new Chief of Defence concluded his speech by calling on the Armed Forces' personnel to always uphold professionalism, integrity, and the core values of the Swedish Armed Forces.   "My leadership will continue to be based on a few fundamental principles: clarity, mission command, and the joy of taking responsibility."  Outgoing Chief of Defence Micael Bydén relinquishes his role as Sweden's highest-ranking military officer feeling a little relieved, but also with a sense of sadness.   "The Armed Forces and the staff have become almost like family, but now it´s time for me to move out."&nbs […]

On 12 July, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Sweden and the US state of New York was signed. The partnership will primarily focus on cooperation between the Swedish Armed Forces and the National Guard in New York, within the framework of the US' so-called State Partnership Program (SPP).The memorandum of understanding on cooperation was signed by the Deputy Secretary for Public Safety of New York Marcos Soler, as well as by Major General Raymond F Shields, the Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson and Major General Johan Pekkari. The signing took place at One World Trade Center in New York. Bild “Cooperation with the National Guard in New York will strengthen the Swedish Armed Forces’ capability development. Exercises and exchanges, together with the relationships that we build, will contribute to more interoperability for our respective units and capabilities”, says Major General Johan Pekkari, chief of the Defence Staff’s Strategy Unit. In April 2023, the Swedish government applied to be nominated for the State Partnership Program, and on 3 July 2024, the US Secretary of Defence decided that Sweden would be offered a partnership with New York. This partnership strengthens the ties between Sweden and the US at state level, and contributes to predictability and long-term stability in the mutual relations. “The New York National Guard has, among other things, divisional capabilities and extensive experience in training, educating, and exercising large unit formations, which is an important capability for the Swedish Armed Forces to develop. Other capabilities we look forward to collaborating on include the field of combat aviation and information exchange in the air domain”, says Major General Johan Pekkari. In concrete terms, the collaboration is translated into a detailed plan with joint activities between the New York National Guard and the Swedish Armed Forces. Other actors, such as those within civil defence, may also benefit from the cooperation. The partnership will be based on the different needs of the two parties and aims to enhance military capabilities. Joint activities might include sharing concepts, ideas, and lessons learned, conducting joint exercises, or participating in each other's training and educational activities. To support the collaboration, the New York National Guard plans to place a liaison officer at the US Embassy in Stockholm. […]

Ahead of this year's summit, NATO notes that the organisation is entering a new era for collective defence. The security situation is serious and requires continued development of both the alliance's deterrence and defence capabilities.The 2024 summit is held on 9 to 11 July in Washington D.C., and is the first time that Sweden participates as an ally. Sweden is represented by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Foreign Affairs Minister Tobias Billström and Defence Minister Pål Jonson. 2024 also marks NATO's 75th anniversary, which will be highlighted during the Washington summit. However, the summit will focus on discussing three key topics: deterrence and defence, support to Ukraine, and global partnerships. “The topics to be discussed during the summit are crucial to the entire alliance, including Sweden and the Swedish Armed Forces. Now, Sweden is fully integrated in the alliance's decision-making, as well as planning and implementation. Sweden has a vote in all of the decisions that are made, and is part of the deterrence and collective defence. We participate and deliver with the existing resources and capabilities of the Swedish Armed Forces”, says Major General Johan Pekkari, chief of the Defence Staff's Strategy Unit. The first topic is about continuing to strengthen defence, including implementing the alliance's plans for deterrence and defence, with the aim to prevent war and conflict. The NATO members are contributing military resources at a level not seen in many years. Today, the alliance has extensive units at high readiness across all domains. The second topic of this year's summit is support for Ukraine. NATO stands behind Ukrainian victory, but for this purpose, Ukraine needs support. It is in the alliance's collective interest to provide that support. During the meeting, nations will launch a NATO-led programme for security and training support. This means NATO will coordinate all support and training packages, manage logistics, and support the long-term development of Ukraine's armed forces. The hope is also that allies will agree on a long-term financial commitment to Ukraine. The allied nations will also discuss the path toward potential Nato membership for Ukraine. The third topic of the NATO meeting is global partnerships, particularly regarding the Indo-Pacific region. The war in Ukraine has shown that security is not a regional phenomenon, but has a global impact. China, North Korea, and other countries support Russia in their warfare, both directly by providing material and weapons support and indirectly by supporting the Russian defence industry and circumventing sanctions and export controls. This has consequences for European security and increases the urgency for NATO to strengthen cooperation with global partners. “All the issues discussed and decided at the summit affect Sweden and, by extension, the Swedish Armed Forces. Our military representation in Brussels, combined with close and ongoing dialogue with the government offices here in Stockholm, ensures that we are well-versed in the issues now being discussed in Washington. This is also a result of our ongoing NATO integration.” NATO is stronger today than ever before. The transatlantic link between Europe and North America has ensured the freedom and security of the alliance for 75 years. Together our deterrence is more credible, our support to Ukraine more consistent and our collaboration with partners more efficient. […]

The government today appointed Lieutenant General Michael Claesson to succeed Micael Bydén as Chief of Defence when Bydén steps down from his position on the last day of September this year.Portrait “It is an incredibly complex, yet inspiring task. I look forward to working with all personnel, both employees and volunteers, to further enhance our defence capabilities,” says Michael Claesson, current Chief of Defence Staff. It has been nearly 40 years to the day since Michael Claesson enlisted as a conscript in the Norrbotten Armoured Battalion in Boden. However, his first contact with the Armed Forces came even earlier; while still in elementary school in Bankeryd, Småland, he had set his sights on a career in the defence and was engaged in the volunteermovement's youth activities from the age of 15. Today, he is the Chief of Defence Staff, but he has held many different roles over the years. Notably, he has been the commander of the Norrbotten Armoured Battalion at I 19 and the Army Tactical Command School, and at various times, a military advisor at the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Sweden's NATO delegation at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. From 2012 to 2013, Michael Claesson was the contingent commander of the 24th Swedish contingent in the ISAF force in Afghanistan, as well as the tactical commander of the multinational Task Force Northern Lights (Regional Command North), an experience he describes as pivotal to his views on leadership and responsibility. One of the most prominent roles Michael Claesson has held in the Armed Forces was as Chief of Operations between 2020 and 2023. This period turned out to be some of the most tumultuous years in modern times, with a pandemic, the regression of peace efforts in Afghanistan leading to an evacuation operation, and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Events that have garnered significant attention worldwide and highlighted the capabilities of the Armed Forces, especially in Swedish media. “The recent global developments have affected us all in some way. And we continue to live in very serious times. The security challenges for us in Sweden and for our allies are numerous, with several ongoing parallel crises and conflicts,” says Michael Claesson, and continues: “We must continue our integration into NATO and take responsibility for our shared commitments with our allies while simultaneously having the strength to develop, grow, and strengthen the Armed Forces' units and capabilities. These are the most important tasks ahead of us. This is a trust and mission that I will uphold with the utmost respect and determination,” he concludes. Michael Claesson will assume the position of Chief of Defence on 1 October and will be promoted to General in conjunction with this. Until then, he will continue to lead the Defence Staff and support the current Chief of Defence, Micael Bydén, as his Chief of Staff. […]

On Wednesday 29 May, Sweden will honour all who have served in international missions on behalf of Sweden. This year’s Veterans Day will be held at the National Maritime Museum in Stockholm. It will be broadcast on YouTube and celebrated on several other locations all over the country. “Veterans Day provides an opportunity to honour Swedish veterans and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in wars and conflicts around the world”, says Joakim Karlquist, head of the Veterans Centre in the Swedish Armed Forces. This year, special attention is given to the veterans who served in the Balkans during 1991-2000. During this period, Sweden contributed nearly 10 000 individuals to Bosnia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania and Hungary. The area is enclosed this year and extends towards the Djurgården Canal. Veterans Day starts with the raising of flags at 8 a.m. at the Parliament and at the National Maritime Museum. At the end of the day, the flags will be lowered at 9 p.m. In connection with Veterans Day, the first episode of a documentary on the Swedish Armed Forces’ efforts in the war in the former republic of Yugoslavia will also air on the Swedish Armed Forces YouTube channel. The second episode will be released on 5 June. Approximately 5 000 visitors are expected to attend the wreath-laying ceremony at the National Maritime Museum and the event will be broadcast live from 1.30 p.m. […]

On 2 and 3 May, Swedish Armed Forces’ Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Michael Claesson, held roundtable talks with Admiral Sir Keith Blount, NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR)."As new allies, we discussed our membership and talked in depth about NATO’s planned objectives and requirements for Sweden. In addition to this, we were able to give a better picture of what it is that Sweden and the Swedish Armed Forces stand for, and which capabilities we bring to the alliance," says Lieutenant General Claesson. The continued integration of operational planning was also discussed. In addition to discussions at the Swedish Armed Forces HQ, the visit also included a meeting with Defence Minister Pål Jonson, at the Ministry of Defence, as well as study visits to the Stockholm Marine Regiment, the Fourth Naval Flotilla and the Naval Staff in Muskö. "Geographically, Sweden is the final piece of the puzzle in the northern flank. We also contribute our knowhow to fight in harsh climate and shallow waters. Our ambition is to enhance security, not only in our vicinity, but for the entire alliance," says Lieutenant General Michael Claesson. […]

Swedish Armed Forces and U.S European Command (USEUCOM) have signed a bilateral Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding a framework for an advanced cyber partnership. For Swedish Armed Forces the partnership creates value and offers multiple possibilities to increase capability development and enhance operational and strategic capability. The partnership is based on a common perception of how the two parties can enhance their cyber defense capability and is built upon five lines of effort; policy, interoperability, training, capability development and cyber operations. A prioritized partner The United States has been a prioritized bilateral partner for Sweden for many years and since March this year, also an ally. For Swedish Armed Forces the partnership creates value and offers multiple possibilities to increase capability development and enhance operational and strategic capability. Cooperation to address advanced threats The LOI was signed by Chief of Directorate of Strategic Plans and Policy Major General Johan Pekkari and USEUCOM's Deputy Director of Plans and Operations Brigadier General James D. Cleet in Stockholm the 12th of April 2024. “International cooperation is a prerequisite to outpace the cyber threats of today” said Major General Johan Pekkari at the signing. “The bilateral partnership enables the parties to enhance their capability, both unilateral and bilateral.” The agreement provides the right conditions Underpinned by a strong set of shared values and a willingness to work together, the Swedish Armed Forces and U.S European Command relationship in cyberspace is expected to grow with speed and clarity of effort. This expansion is necessary to outpace advanced and persistent threats against military networks and critical infrastructure supporting the collective security of both nations. “The European theatre faces multiple, and increasingly aggressive, cyber adversaries” said U.S. Air Force Brigadier General James D. Cleet. "Along with our NATO partners, and Allies like Sweden, we must work together in order to resist and recover from attacks in the cyberspace domain. This cooperation is especially necessary to prevent adversaries from being able to degrade critical systems and networks we share and depend upon.&rdquo […]

On Monday, March 18th, The Chief of Defence of the Swedish Armed Forces, general Micael Bydén hosted a flag ceremony at Karlberg Castle in the presence of His Majesty the King, to manifest Sweden's entry into the NATO defense alliance.– Now we are experiencing the shift from being a partner to being an ally, which is a significant change for the Swedish Armed Forces and my personnel. The defense of Sweden now begins at NATO's common border. The mission of the Swedish Armed Forces from now on is: We defend Sweden, our allies, and our freedom to live as we choose, said the The Chief of Defence of the Swedish Armed Forces, in his speech to the audience. During the ceremony, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and MSB's Director-General Charlotte Petri Gornitzka also spoke. After the ceremony, specially invited guests were welcomed into the Rikssalen in the castle, where Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the leader of the Social democrats, Magdalena Andersson, delivered speeches to the ambassadors of the NATO countries in Sweden. […]

On 1 December, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson is taking part in the Berlin Security Conference. […]

(New version) On Friday 18 November, Minister of Defence Pål Jonson will travel to Canada to attend the Halifax International Security Forum (HISF) on 18–19 November. […]

The Government has decided to provide additional military support to Ukraine. The support consists of materiel requested by Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, infantry support weapons and mine clearance equipment. In total, this support amounts to a value of approximately SEK 500 million. […]

The Government has adopted a bill proposing legislative amendments to quickly streamline Sweden’s ability to receive military support. The aim is to enable quicker decisions on receiving operational military support in the form of military forces from states that are members of the EU or NATO. […]

On 20 December the Swedish Defence Commission presented the report Resilience - the total defence concept and the development of civil defence 2021-2025. […]