Sweden Moves Ahead with Plans for New Foreign Intelligence Agency
The agency will cost about 2.8 billion crowns and take over some duties from Sweden’s military intelligence service.
- On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard announced Sweden will establish a new foreign intelligence agency called the UND, beginning operations in January 2027 to address overseas security threats.
- This initiative follows criticism that existing officials failed to predict Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, prompting Sweden to rethink its intelligence structure as a NATO ally facing 'new expectations.'
- Stenergard said the agency will cost around 2.8 billion crowns , transferred from the Armed Forces budget, and will conduct the 'collection, processing, and analysis of information.'
- The new service will work alongside the National Defence Radio Establishment, the Swedish Security Service, and Military Intelligence , aligning Sweden's intelligence structure with NATO frameworks.
- A bill is currently with the Council on Legislation for scrutiny, with the government planning to present the proposal to parliament in June for final approval.
32 Articles
32 Articles
The war in Ukraine changes the rules of the game in Europe. A NATO member country takes an important step to strengthen its information capabilities and announces the establishment of a new intelligence agency, following the MI6 model in the UK.
The Swedish government said on Tuesday it would push ahead with a plan to establish a new intelligence agency aimed at countering foreign threats.
Sweden is going to establish a new intelligence service dealing with foreign affairs. The move follows criticism that security officials had not foreseen the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The plan was already approved last year. Now, the Swedish government has said that it is proceeding with the establishment.
New Swedish authority must draw a more accurate threat picture after previous intelligence has failed.
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