The Swedish government has set out its plan to establish a new foreign intelligence agency as part of a broader security shift driven by the war in Ukraine.
The proposed service, to be called the foreign intelligence service (UND), is expected to begin operations in January 2027, according to Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. She said the initiative reflects lessons learned from the ongoing conflict and the growing importance of information capabilities in modern warfare:
During the ongoing war in Ukraine, it has become very clear that an information advantage and the ability to rapidly and continuously adapt various technical systems are just as crucial as advanced weapons systems.
Stenergard also told reporters that the new agency would be comparable in function to the United Kingdom’s MI6.
Sweden already operates multiple intelligence bodies, including the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MUST), which handles foreign military threats, and the Swedish Security Service (Säpo), which focuses on domestic security.
The new agency is expected to take over some responsibilities currently held by MUST and coordinate closely with the armed forces, Säpo, and the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA), which handles signals intelligence.
Officials said the UND will be tasked with identifying external threats to Sweden through the collection, processing, and analysis of intelligence. The announcement comes after Sweden abandoned more than 200 years of military non-alignment and joined NATO following the start of the war in Ukraine.
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