Försvarsmakten

Försvarsmakten (the Swedish Armed Forces) is Sweden's government agency responsible for defending the country and supporting civilian authorities in peacetime and crisis. It operates under the Ministry of Defence and is tasked with deterrence, crisis management, and international security cooperation. The Armed Forces include three service branches—the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force—and the reserve Home Guard (Hemvärnet). For mobilization and readiness, Sweden maintains a conscription system that was reintroduced in 2017 and is gender-neutral; conscripts and professional volunteers serve in units across the branches.

The Armed Forces are led politically by the Minister for Defence and militarily by the Supreme Commander (Överbefälhavaren). The headquarters is located in Stockholm, and defense materiel is procured and maintained by the Försvarets materielverk (FMV). The Home Guard comprises part-time volunteers who can be mobilized to support national defense and civil authorities.

Key activities include national defense, disaster response, and international missions under UN, EU, or coalition operations. The organization conducts regular training exercises and maintains readiness for rapid deployment. In addition to conventional forces, Försvarsmakten emphasizes cyber defense, military intelligence, and strategic planning for total defense—integrating civilian and military efforts to strengthen resilience.

Sweden participates in international defense cooperation, such as NORDEFCO, and maintains close partnerships with European allies and other partners to address security challenges in the Baltic and Nordic regions.