Trial of Former Security Advisor Landerholm for Mishandling NATO-Related Classified Documents Set to Begin
Henrik Landerholm's trial for mishandling NATO-related classified documents is set to commence on August 18, 2025.
- • Landerholm faces trial for negligence regarding classified documents related to NATO negotiations.
- • The documents were forgotten at Gällöfsta Kursgård after a meeting with the US National Security Advisor.
- • Landerholm denies wrongdoing, claiming he did not realize the documents were classified.
- • The trial is scheduled for August 18, 2025, and is expected to last three days.
Key details
Henrik Landerholm, the former national security advisor of Sweden, is set to face a negligence trial starting August 18, 2025, over accusations of mishandling classified documents pertaining to Sweden's NATO application strategy with Turkey. The trial comes after Landerholm inadvertently left sensitive information at Gällöfsta Kursgård, where the documents were later discovered by a cleaner.
The documents in question included details of a secret meeting he held with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on March 13, 2023, aimed at discussing pivotal negotiations regarding Sweden's NATO membership amid Turkish opposition. It is reported that the documents housed classified content from both the Swedish Security Police and Armed Forces, yet Landerholm has denied any wrongdoing, asserting he did not recognize the documents' classified status at the time.
The mishap is not an isolated incident in Landerholm's tenure, as he previously faced scrutiny for leaving his mobile phone at the Hungarian embassy and a notebook at Sveriges Radio, which culminated in public and political outcry leading to his resignation in January. The Swedish Security Service has acknowledged the sensitive nature of the information discussed in the meeting, further aggravating Landerholm's legal troubles, which could result in fines or up to one year in prison for negligence regarding classified data. The trial is expected to last three days and will include testimonies from nine witnesses, including high-ranking officials from the Prime Minister's office and military personnel.
Despite the charges, Landerholm’s attorney argues that the actions attributed to him may not constitute a crime under the law. Public interest remains high as Sweden seeks to finalize its NATO membership, making this trial particularly consequential in the context of national security and diplomatic relations with Turkey.
In response to inquiries surrounding his case, Landerholm has refrained from providing further comments as he prepares for the trial next week, which underscores the gravity of the mishandling allegations.