Swedish government proposes forced purchase of properties linked to suspected espionage

The Swedish government will investigate legislation allowing the state to compulsorily acquire properties suspected of being used for espionage or sabotage, public broadcaster SVT reports.

Defence Minister Pål Jonson (Moderate Party) stated the measure targets foreign states—particularly Russia—accused of “war planning” against Sweden. “We must take further action to protect Sweden’s security,” he said. The proposal would apply regardless of the owner’s nationality, including Swedish citizens.

A government inquiry, due by 15 March 2027, will assess legal constraints, as property rights are constitutionally protected and subject to the European Convention on Human Rights. Jonson acknowledged the need to “strike a reasonable balance” but cited the “very serious security situation” as justification.

The plan follows concerns over foreign-owned properties near sensitive sites, dubbed “Trojan horses” by European security services. A prominent case involves a Russian Orthodox church near Västerås Airport, which local authorities seek to expropriate over alleged ties to Moscow.

The opposition Social Democrats separately proposed blocking state land sales in strategically sensitive archipelagos, such as Öja and Landsort south of Stockholm, without prior security assessments. “The state must control the land it owns. We don’t know what could happen down the line,” said party defence spokesperson Peter Hultqvist, urging a halt to Russian and Belarusian acquisitions.

Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have already banned property purchases by Russian and Belarusian nationals.