Government policy

The Strategy for Sweden’s foreign trade, investment and global competitiveness outlines a new holistic approach to creating the best possible conditions for Swedish companies to grow, develop and assume leading positions in tomorrow’s global markets.

Sweden builds security together with others. Sweden’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a cornerstone in this work. In addition, Sweden has extensive defence cooperation with other countries, both in the form of bilateral cooperation between Sweden and another country and multilateral cooperation with several countries.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas carried out a terrorist attack against Israel. The security situation in the region has seriously deteriorated since then. Information about the Government’s response to the situation and the subsequent war is provided here.

In the first half of 2023, the Swedish Government launched the defence research innovation initiative to increase the capacity and pace of innovation in the defence industry. This initiative should create added value through increased and enhanced collaboration within and between the business sector and government agencies in various sectors. The purpose is to strengthen Sweden’s security and national defence capability and boost competitiveness in the defence industry.

In Sweden, everyone must be able to live a secure life without fear of being a victim of crime, regardless of who they are or where they live. To counteract the major challenges connected to crime and insecurity in our country, investments in the judicial system and criminal law measures must be combined with effective and proactive crime prevention efforts. The Government’s national strategy Barriärer mot brott (Barriers to crime) is an important part of these efforts. The focus of the strategy is social crime prevention efforts, including the prevention of children and young people from becoming involved in criminal networks and other crime, and ensuring that those who do commit crimes leave that world behind.

Organised crime poses a serious threat to the Swedish society. The deadly violence and the criminal financial structures used by organised crime actors, and parallel social structures at local level, affect the safety and security of Swedish citizens. Also, the impact of organised crime damages citizens’ trust in public institutions. The strategy calls for action and outlines priorities, measures, and objectives, towards further resistance against organised crime.

The Financial Stability Council is a meeting forum for regular discussion of issues concerning financial stability and risks that can lead to undesired consequences for the financial system as a whole. The council will ultimately work to safeguard financial stability and thus reduce the risk of a negative impact on the economic outlook. The council will also discuss the preparation of, and need for, measures if it is deemed that stability is at risk.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – particularly antibiotic resistance – has long been an important issue for Sweden, and action is being taken to prevent the spread of AMR and its effects both in Sweden and globally.

Sweden’s total defence involves the whole of society. Total defence is the range of activities required to prepare Sweden for war and consists of two areas of activity – military defence and civil defence.

Terrorism threatens peace and security, and our fundamental rights and freedoms. The threat today is more complex than in the past, and for several years now, serious ideologically motivated crime has contributed to the increased threat to individuals and Swedish interests. The Government has therefore drafted a new comprehensive national strategy against both violent extremism and terrorism. The strategy takes a long-term approach to work at local, regional, national and international level. This type of crime must be prevented and combatted with the full force of society.

The Government parties, in cooperation with the Sweden Democrats, have decided on six collaborative projects. Within the framework of these projects, they will draft and carry out political reforms to resolve Sweden’s most important societal challenges. In addition to the six collaborative projects, the Government is working on two other priorities.

In 2024, Sweden will coordinate the informal foreign and security cooperation formats of the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) and the Nordic countries (N5). The NB8 and N5 are led by foreign ministers, who meet several times a year to discuss current issues. During the year, focus will be on strengthening security cooperation in the region and continued support to Ukraine.

A safer, greener and freer Nordic region – this is the focus of the 2024 Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. The vision of the Nordic region being the world’s most integrated and sustainable region by 2030 will shape the Swedish Presidency.

International sanctions are an important instrument to safeguard peace and security, and promote democracy and human rights. Sanctions mean that restrictions limiting the freedom of a state, a region, a group or individuals are imposed. Sanctions that apply in Sweden have been adopted by the UN or the EU. Sweden is bound by a total of some 40 sanctions regimes. These include both geographical sanctions targeting specific countries or regions and thematic sanctions targeting specific problems.

Sweden has contributed military support to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. There has been a significant change in the level and content of the support provided by Sweden: from personal protective equipment in the first decision to tanks, advanced weapons systems and ammunition in later packages. With support package 15 presented by the Government on February 20, 2024, the total value of Sweden’s military support to Ukraine amounts to over SEK 30 billion (February 20, 2024).

Information about the Government’s measures to strengthen Sweden’s security, protect Swedish citizens and safeguard Swedish economic interests in light of the serious security situation is available here.

The Government’s task force for Jewish life in Sweden was presented in January 2023. The working group collaborates and conducts dialogue on preventive measures and efforts to improve the conditions for Jewish life and prevent and combat antisemitism in Sweden. This page contains a list of documents and articles on the group’s work and the Government’s other measures to combat antisemitism.

Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has provided military, humanitarian and civil support to support Ukraine. Since February 2022, Sweden contributed approximately SEK 37 billion (approx. EUR 3,2 billion*) to various initiatives that support Ukraine (20 February 2024). Together with the EU, Sweden has also adopted macroeconomic support and several sanctions packages against Russia.

Sweden’s migration policy is undergoing a paradigm shift. The Government is intensifying its efforts to reduce, in full compliance with Sweden’s international commitments, the number of migrants coming irregularly to Sweden. Labour immigration fraud and abuses must be stopped and the ‘shadow society’ combated. Sweden will continue to have dignified reception standards, and those who have no grounds for protection or other legal right to stay in Sweden must be expelled.

On 7 March 2024, Sweden became a full member of NATO. NATO is a defence Alliance whose purpose is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and security. Here you will find information about Sweden’s role, and the Government’s work and policies on NATO.