Strengthened cooperation between the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Swedish Armed Forces

“The new agreement is an important step in our efforts to strengthen Sweden’s total defence at sea and clarifies the Swedish Maritime Administration’s role as a civil preparedness authority in a changing security environment,” says Erik Eklund, Director-General of the Swedish Maritime Administration.

Sweden depends on open and functioning sea routes for imports, exports and security of supply. Maritime connections in the Baltic Sea region are also important to Sweden’s role as a NATO Ally.

The purpose of the agreement is to create long-term conditions for coordination, planning and capability development in areas that are important to both shipping and Sweden’s total defence. Together, the Swedish Maritime Administration and the Swedish Armed Forces will contribute to strengthening maritime security, safety at sea and accessibility at sea in peacetime, during crises, at heightened states of alert and, ultimately, in war.

For the Swedish Maritime Administration, the agreement means deeper cooperation in several of the authority’s core areas. The agreement sets out joint objectives through 2030, and through 2035 for icebreaking and icebreaking capacity, and identifies specific areas in which cooperation is to be developed. This provides a common direction for planning, priorities and capability development, and creates better conditions for gradually building the capabilities required within Sweden’s total defence.