Swedish Government Holds Rare National Security Council Meeting Amid Defense Upgrades

Sweden's National Security Council convened an extraordinary meeting on Friday afternoon, January 23, 2026, convened by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to address pressing security issues and align strategic approaches amid heightened concerns about national security. The meeting, which was moved up from the originally scheduled Saturday session, emphasized the need for a unified assessment of recent developments and diplomatic engagements.

Prime Minister Kristersson underscored the importance of "a shared situational awareness" among ministers, describing the council’s goal as to synchronize perspectives on the ongoing security turbulence. Such extraordinary sessions are rare, previously only called in critical moments such as the war in Ukraine, highlighting the gravity of the current situation. All party leaders were invited to participate, focusing discussions not only on broader security but also on rising gang crime in Sweden.

Parallel to the council meeting, the Social Democrats made significant demands concerning Sweden's defense upgrades. Peter Hultqvist, the party's defense policy spokesperson, called for a new national security policy analysis to guide the forthcoming defense committee's decisions. This committee, slated for appointment by the end of January, will focus on allocating approximately 300 billion SEK agreed by political parties to expedite Sweden’s military modernization.

The Social Democrats propose a considerable boost in military capacity, including raising conscription numbers to 12,000 by 2030 and establishing two additional army brigades beyond the four already planned. They emphasize investing in long-range weaponry, strengthening air defenses, and forming a new multinational amphibious battalion stationed in Gotland.

This period marks a critical juncture for Swedish national defense and security strategies as government officials seek coherence in policy and robust responses to emerging threats both domestically and internationally.