Strengthening societal resilience, protection against drone-related threats, and the management of strategic reserves are the main elements of a new phase of Polish–Swedish cooperation. Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński and Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin signed a letter of intent in Warsaw aimed at reinforcing the strategic partnership in the face of hybrid and climate-related threats in Europe. The document was signed on March 11, 2026, during the Total Defence Forum in Warsaw, in the presence of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
Photo: Ministry Of Internal Affairs And Administration
During the meeting, the ministers emphasized that the security of the Baltic Sea region is a shared priority for both countries, and that the agreement continues actions implemented in 2024–2025.
“Today’s letter of intent marks the beginning of concrete joint operational initiatives. As close allies and neighbors, we are building a common front for a safer Baltic region. Polish–Swedish cooperation is strategic, based not only on the exchange of information within civil protection systems, but also on providing mutual rescue and humanitarian assistance in the event of a natural disaster or another crisis situation. When creating the innovative Civil Protection and Civil Defence Program, we drew on Swedish solutions,” said Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński during the signing ceremony.
The document provides for the development of cooperation in four main areas. The first concerns security related to the growing use of drones, both in rescue operations and in warning systems, as well as protection against potential unmanned aerial attacks. The second includes cooperation on strategic reserves and supply security during crisis situations. The third area focuses on strengthening societal resilience, including building public preparedness and developing cooperation between the public and private sectors. The fourth concerns cooperation among services responsible for security along the Baltic Sea coast.
During the forum, Minister Kierwiński also recalled Poland’s investments in the civil protection and civil defence system. Under legislation in force since January 1, 2025, nearly 34 billion PLN has been allocated for this purpose in 2025–2026.
The participants also highlighted long-standing rescue cooperation between the two countries, including the assistance of Polish firefighters during forest fires in Sweden in 2018 and Swedish support during floods in Poland in 2024. Another symbol of this cooperation is the “Safety Guide,” distributed to around 17 million households in Poland, modeled on solutions used in Sweden.
🟢 KOMUNIKAT | Polska i Szwecja zacieśniają współpracę w obszarze ochrony ludności i obrony cywilnej – minister Marcin Kierwiński podpisał list intencyjny
✅ Wzmocnienie odporności społecznej, ochrona przed zagrożeniami dronowymi oraz zarządzanie rezerwami strategicznymi – to… pic.twitter.com/MsHlVVbpzL
— MSWiA 🇵🇱 (@MSWiA_GOV_PL) March 11, 2026
Szwecja od lat jest dla Polski ważnym partnerem w zakresie wymiany poglądów i rozwiązań w ochronie ludności i obronie cywilnej. To z ich doświadczenia czerpaliśmy przygotowując polską ustawę o obronie cywilnej. Dziś na Forum Obrony Totalnej zacieśniamy współpracę 🇵🇱🤝🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/QsR01oex09
— Marcin Kierwiński (@MKierwinski) March 11, 2026