Sweden is pushing ahead with plans to strengthen what it calls its ‘total defence’ strategy by stockpiling food for the first time since the Cold War as fears of a conflict with Russia loom
Sweden will be re-filling its Cold War era food silos for the first time in decades amid mounting fears of a potential war with Russia.
The move comes after the country broke from its long-held tradition of military neutrality and officially joined NATO in 2024. Now, Stockholm is pushing ahead with plans to strengthen what it calls is its “total defence” strategy.
Under the 2026 budget, around £45 million (575 million kroner) has been set aside to build national grain reserves, ensuring the country can feed itself in the event that global supplies are cut off.
Civil defence minister Carl-Oskar said: “We are well aware that the risk of Sweden becoming completely cut off is very low, but the risk of complex supply chains being disrupted with major and unpredictable consequences in the event of war and conflict is unfortunately more likely.”
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The first storage facilities will be located in the north – an area Bohlin said could become isolated in a crisis.
He stressed it was not a “random” choice, adding: “Northern Sweden’s important military-strategic location combined with a low degree of self-sufficiency in grain makes it urgent to establish physical storage here as soon as possible.
“The government has therefore brought forward the planning and rollout of this buildup precisely because there is no time to lose.”
Bohin added: “Today, we are thus adding another day to the record books as we have taken concrete measures and steps to seriously strengthen the resilience of Swedish society.”
A tender process is now underway in the northern counties of Norrbotten, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland and Jamtland, which currently depend on food transported from the far south – a journey of roughly 1,000 miles.
Sweden reinstated its total defence model in 2015 after Russia annexed Crimea, ramping up further following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The plan involves mobilising all of society – including authorities, citizens and businesses – to resist armed aggression while maintaining essential functions.
It comes as EU defence ministers gathered in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss Russian air incursions – amid concerns that the Kremlin is testing the West in a grey area between war and peace.
The EU has now proposed the creation of a “drone wall” and is due to outline its plans to ministers – with hopes for a sign off at a summit of leaders next week.