The week included an unprecedented call at the External Advisory Council, where King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden met with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergaard. In this space, as detailed by the European News Agency, the simulation of the war scenario and the institutional response mechanisms that the Nordic country faces in the face of the international situation were discussed.
According to Europe Press, Sweden organized a national security exercise in which members of the royal family, MPs, members of the armed forces and representatives of various government agencies participated for the first time since 1999. The simulation considered strategies for possible war scenarios, in the context of global tensions and new challenges for the nation. Prime Minister Kristersson explained in an official statement that the purpose of these joint exercises is “of particular importance” given the current security situation and stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between the main state institutions.
As Europe Press published, the design of the exercise was intended not only to test the response capacity of the various branches of power, but also to identify potential weaknesses in coordination and communication between responsible participants in a national emergency. It was an initiative directly promoted by the Swedish government, which seeks to establish common protocols and strengthen the preparation of actors involved in protecting the country’s internal security.
Europe Press explained that the meeting in the External Advisory Council – an advisory body that advises on issues related to foreign policy and national defense – facilitated direct dialogue between the head of state, the executive branch and senior legislative and military officials. In addition to Prime Minister Christerson and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the meeting was attended by high-level officials who play essential roles in national defense strategic decision-making.
This year’s simulation represents the first time in more than three decades that Sweden has chosen to involve all levels of the state structure in such an exercise. The last time a similar joint operation was carried out was in 1990, according to Europa Press. This type of preparation is regaining its prominent position after a period of stability, as such tests remained in the background after the end of the Cold War, once again testing the country’s ability to withstand contemporary geopolitical challenges.
The exercise looked at different hypothetical situations requiring coordinated responses from different state bodies, according to information from Europe Press. The authorities then assessed the effectiveness of communications systems, chains of command, and institutional resilience in the face of potential crises. This approach aims to ensure that cooperation between institutions allows them to respond quickly and appropriately to potential external threats.
According to Europe Press, the Royal House, represented by the King and the Crown Prince, assumed a central role in the exercise, enhancing the symbolic and practical role of the head of state in critical moments of national history. The simultaneous presence of political, military and administrative representatives in the exercise responds to the need to integrate all state capabilities in the management of the country’s security and defence.
Prime Minister Kristersson, according to Europa Press, stressed the importance of the government’s initiative by insisting that current international challenges require consensual and well-coordinated responses. Once again, the global context placed national security at the center of the Scandinavian political agenda, which prompted the Swedish authorities to modernize and strengthen their preventive mechanisms.
This trial is part of a broader strategy by the Government of Sweden to review and adapt its defense plans and legal and operational frameworks, in line with the evolving security landscape in Europe and globally. Europe Press reported that within the framework of this process, cooperation between institutions and building relationships of trust between the main actors in the country are priority elements.