Sweden in focus: Minister Bohlin discusses total defense on June 16th!

Sweden in focus: Minister Bohlin discusses total defense on June 16th!

Sweden is strengthening its defense measures and pursuing a comprehensive “total defense” strategy. This new direction is a direct response to the security tensions in Europe, particularly after the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Swedish Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin will speak at an event hosted by the German Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies (GIDS) on Monday, June 16. Under the title “Total Defense: Concept, experiences and thoughts from a Swedish perspective” he will give a lecture at the Bundeswehr Leadership Academy in Hamburg at 6 p.m. Dr. Wolfgang Müller, GIDS military economist and reserve lieutenant colonel, will moderate the event.

A comprehensive protection approach

Sweden relies on the concept of “total defense,” which aims to keep society functioning under difficult conditions and to combine efforts to support the armed forces. The minister emphasizes the need to prepare for possible attacks, especially given the country's vulnerable infrastructure.

With 16,000 kilometers of power lines running through dense forests, Sweden is particularly vulnerable to acts of sabotage. The Swedish Agency for Civil Emergencies is therefore calling for investments of ten billion crowns for crisis preparations. These measures show how serious the Swedish government is about the security situation.

Increasing investment in defense

The defense budget for 2024 includes 5.5 billion crowns (about 470 million euros) for infrastructure improvements, almost three times as much as in 2021. These financial resources are part of a broader plan to better prepare Sweden for potential threats.

To ensure energy security, a disused power plant in Malmö that was originally scheduled to be demolished is being reactivated. Uniper received almost a billion euros in compensation for withdrawing the sale of the power plant, another indication of the changing geopolitical situation.

Compulsory military service and compulsory community service

Sweden reintroduced conscription in 2017, although not one in ten is actually drafted. The “general duty of service” forces everyone living in Sweden to defend themselves, whether in the armed forces or in important social functions. In addition, compulsory community service was also reactivated to complete the concept of “total defense”. These comprehensive measures show that Sweden is ready to mobilize both military and civilian capacities.

The event on June 16th provides a valuable opportunity to learn more about Swedish defense policy. Those interested must register by Wednesday, June 11th at 4 p.m. Minister Bohlin is accompanied by Veronika Wand-Danielsson, the Swedish ambassador to Germany, and Captain Jonas Hård af Segerstad, the Swedish defense attaché. Hård af Segerstad will also be a guest at a GIDS debate on conscription in 2024.

Now that Sweden has made a remarkable turnaround in defense policy, it remains to be seen how the security situation in the region will develop.