The North will also play a role in the enhanced defence spending with a focus on space-based surveillance and satellite communications in the Arctic.
Civil defence and cybersecurity
The civil defence sector will also see a major boost, with SEK 37.5 billion allocated to critical areas like food supply, energy, and health care.
“The civil defence will be built up based on the demands of war, and we aim to swiftly build up capabilities that strengthen Sweden and make our country more secure,” Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin said, stressing the urgency of this investment.
Cybersecurity is also a focus of Sweden’s defence plans, as cyberattacks become more common.
The government plans to establish a national cybersecurity center to prevent significant disruptions to the country’s operations in event of a breech by a hostile actor.
“Essential public services need to have the capacity to withstand cyberattacks, and information security and cybersecurity must therefore be prioritized,” the defence ministry said.
Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin on October 8, 2024 presenting the new version of the country’s preparedness booklet “If the crisis or war comes.” (Claudio Bresciani/TT News Agency /AFP via Getty Images)
Psychological defence will also play a key role in Sweden’s strategy.
The government said it’s working to boost the population’s willingness to defend the country and is focusing on improving resilience and personal preparedness. Additionally, Sweden will help NATO tackle threats related to cognitive warfare.
“The resilience being built up by reinforcing the civil defence is vital not only to Sweden’s security, but also to that of our Allies in NATO,” the defence ministry said. “Society’s resilience thus becomes part of NATO’s collective deterrence and defence.”
Comments, tips or story ideas? Contact Eilís at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada : Canadian military says it has tracked, stopped China surveillance in Arctic waters, The Canadian Press
Finland: Russian cyber attacks, espionage pose growing threat to Finnish national security, Yle news
Iceland: Arctic allies meet in Iceland to tackle growing security challenges, climate, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Norway defence budget to ensure armed forces strong enough to deter Russia, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russian defence minister visits naval infantry brigade near Nordic NATO border, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Exercise to strengthen Nordic cooperation on food preparedness, Radio Sweden
United States: Startling video shows Russian fighter jet flying within feet of U.S. F-16 near Alaska, The Associated Press
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Publish date : 2024-10-15 13:11:00
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