The government has decided to conduct a review of Swedish intelligence activities and has appointed former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (Moderate Party) as the special investigator. The task of the investigation is to review intelligence activities in support of Swedish foreign, security, and defence policy, as well as to map threats against Sweden's security, the government states in a press release.
The government states that the review should be conducted in light of global developments and the defence and security policy situation, the changing threat landscape, and technological advancements. Swedish intelligence activities have not been subject to a general review for over 20 years, and the world looks very different today.
The task is to be reported to the Ministry of Defence by 15 December 2024.
The investigation will also assess the intelligence needs of the government, authorities, and other actors relevant to Sweden's security and how these needs can be met. Coordination and the ability to compile and analyse intelligence to meet these needs will also be analysed. If necessary, the investigator should propose necessary legislative changes, the government writes.
The investigation assignment was announced yesterday, 29 October, in Svenska Dagbladet in an opinion piece written by Defence Minister Pål Jonson (Moderate Party) and the defence policy spokespersons for the Christian Democrats and Liberals, Mikael Oscarsson (Christian Democrats) and Anna Starbrink (Liberals), respectively. In the opinion piece, they state, among other things, that "Sweden should be well-prepared to face a deteriorating security situation." They believe that a review of Swedish intelligence activities can further contribute to better situational awareness and strengthen the possibilities for early and relevant decision-making.