The total defense, that is to say, which includes both the military and civil defense, must be rebuilt. The armed forces can no longer stand alone in a possible conflict.

- 30 years ago, the Swedish Armed Forces was an organization of 800,000 men and women. Now we are about 50,000. In order for us to be able to solve our main task, armed struggle, we need to get support from the civil defense, ”says Gabor Nagy, head of the total defense department within the Armed Forces.

Everyone must become more conscious

Today, a well-attended conference was held in Visby with the aim of giving a current picture of how the work goes on to build up the total defense and what it takes to be able to defend modern society. It is not necessarily about threats in the form of bullets and gunpowder.

- Today it may be that someone is getting involved in our public elections. Or they influence opinion makers, journalists and others who try to work on issues of propaganda and disinformation, says Jenny Deschamps-Berger, Head of Unit at the Swedish National Defense College.

She says everyone needs to become more aware of these threats.

- The first step is to be careful about what you share on your smartphone. Think about why anyone wants to influence me to share this, she says.

"It's a question for the whole of Sweden"

The Swedish Agency for Social Protection and Preparedness, MSB, was in place during the conference. Director-General Dan Eliasson emphasized during his speech on stage the importance of all aspects of society addressing the total defense issue.

- This is not a question just for the Armed Forces and for MSB. It is a matter for all of Sweden. It is the whole that makes us strong, he says.

Gotland has been designated by the government as a pilot county for the new total defense. The work that is now being done on the island will point out the direction for the rest of the country.

- Gotland is perhaps the county administrative board that has come the longest in its planning work. now it is important for us as a central authority to follow this work and see what lessons we can draw and disseminate and verify it, and ensure that it is important development work for the whole of Sweden, says Dan Eliasson.