The Swedish government has set its first policy on space use for Sweden’s defense and security under which the country will undertake national projects and join international activities to achieve its goal.
Noting that Sweden has grown increasingly dependent on space as a strategic operational environment, Stockholm said in a statement that the new strategy seeks to build a portfolio of Swedish space capabilities that will support its overall defense readiness. At the same time, the government stressed that Sweden will build itself as a responsible actor in space defense and security.
In April, Sweden signed the U.S.-led Artemis Accords, an international cooperation framework for safe, transparent and responsible space exploration.
Pal Jonson, Sweden’s minister for defense, said the new space strategy seeks to prepare the country to take the necessary measures in an “increasingly competitive and contested” domain. “With this strategy, we are strengthening the defense and security dimension of space policy so that Sweden is better postured to meet the challenges in space and to use space for defense and security,” he added.
A previous memo from the Swedish Defence Research Agency recommended the creation of the strategy, noting Sweden’s reliance on commercial services and international cooperation for space defense and security.