Sweden adopts first national intelligence strategy

Sweden’s government has adopted its first national strategy for intelligence operations, SVT reports. The strategy calls for greater openness, increased focus on new technology and closer international cooperation.

Government ministers approved the strategy on Thursday. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson writes in its foreword that the deteriorating security situation, greater access to public sources and Sweden’s joint defence with its 31 NATO allies provide grounds for greater openness.

The strategy calls for more cooperation with businesses, start-up communities and the venture capital sector, particularly on artificial intelligence and innovation. It also says the authorities should communicate more clearly with the public about intelligence operations and their purpose.

Sweden’s intelligence community is also expected to produce “actionable narratives” to support national decision-making by providing information, knowledge and understanding that intelligence users cannot obtain in other ways. The strategy further calls for the development of “intelligence diplomacy”, using intelligence or intelligence relationships in various ways to promote Swedish interests.

The strategy forms part of a broader reform programme that includes the creation of a new foreign intelligence agency, UND. The agency is expected to take over several core tasks from the Military Intelligence and Security Service, Must. Experts and opposition parties have criticised the plans, saying they are being pushed through too quickly and could be risky in a vulnerable security situation.

The strategy refers to Sweden’s intelligence operations as the Swedish intelligence community. Its four core agencies are the Swedish Security Service, Must, UND and the National Defence Radio Establishment, FRA.