The Swedish Armed Forces and the Civil Defence Authority establish new business council for total defence

The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) and the Agency for Civil Defence (Myndigheten för civilt försvar, MCF) have taken the initiative to establish a new business council with leading Swedish companies to strengthen total defence and Sweden's overall resilience.

According to the Swedish Armed Forces, the council will serve as a strategic forum where the business community can contribute experience, perspectives, and situational awareness linked to supply capability, endurance, and critical societal functions during crises and war. The council is described as a complement to existing industry and sector collaborations.

"Modern conflicts are about far more than military capability. They are decided by society's endurance, supply capability, and ability to function under pressure. That is why defence authorities and the business community need to work more closely together than before," says Supreme Commander Michael Claesson in a statement from the Swedish Armed Forces.

The first meeting was held on 7 May, and the ambition is for the business council to convene at least twice a year. Participants come from sectors including banking, the food industry, energy, transport, telecommunications, and the defence industry.

Among the participants are representatives from SEB, Swedbank, Folksam, ICA Gruppen, Skanska, SKF, Alfa Laval, Volvo, Scania, Ericsson, Telia, Arla, Axel Johnson, Lantmännen, Stena, SJ, Vattenfall, E.ON, AstraZeneca, Getinge, Securitas, Saab, BAE Systems Bofors, MW Group, Bonnier News, and PostNord.

Director General Mikael Frisell writes in a post on LinkedIn that the business community is a decisive part of Sweden's overall resilience.

"With this council, we are creating a strategic forum where leading companies can contribute perspectives, situational awareness, experience, and sound advice, as a complement to existing collaborations across various industries and sectors," he writes.

MW Group Chief Executive Mikael Karlsson also highlights industry's responsibility in the work to strengthen defence capability.

"I particularly hope to contribute the perspective of small and medium-sized enterprises and the role they can play in building long-term resilience and defence capability," he writes in a post on LinkedIn.