The Swedish government on Tuesday said it will move ahead with plans to establish a new foreign intelligence agency, following criticism that existing security services failed to anticipate Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine despite clear warning signs.

The creation of a civilian intelligence agency reporting directly to the government was first proposed in a public investigation and received initial approval last year.

Government Cites Growing Threat Landscape

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the decision reflects a rapidly evolving security environment.

“As is well known, we have a serious security situation and we face a broad and complex threat picture every day, and this places new and increased demands on our capabilities,” she said at a press conference.

She added that Sweden’s role as a NATO ally also requires stronger intelligence coordination. “As we now develop our intelligence structure, we will better match the systems within NATO and among our allies,” she noted.

Lessons from Ukraine War Intelligence Gaps

Like many Western intelligence agencies, Sweden’s Military Intelligence and Security Service did not predict the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drawing criticism in official reviews and from political leaders.

The new agency aims to address such gaps by strengthening Sweden’s foreign intelligence capabilities.

Working Alongside Existing Agencies

The new body will operate alongside current intelligence institutions, including the Swedish Security Service and the National Defence Radio Establishment, which handles signals intelligence.

Officials say the goal is to improve coordination while enhancing Sweden’s ability to assess external threats.

Timeline and Budget

The agency is expected to begin operations at the turn of the year, with an estimated cost of 2.8 billion Swedish crowns (about $302 million). Funding will largely be reallocated from the armed forces budget.

(with inputs from Reuters)