‘Every Swede has a role to play in our total defence concept’: Swedish Civil Defence Minister Bohlin

“Everyone has a role to play”, those are the words of today’s guest Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Sweden’s first minister for civil defence since 1947. Bohlin has become a key figure in Sweden’s evolving security landscape, as threats against Europe are rapidly increasing by the day. Grey zone aggression – covert actions that fall short of open military conflict – is on the rise, and countries along Russia’s eastern flank are on the frontline: from cyber attacks, disinformation and drone sightings. As the war in Ukraine is set to enter its fourth year and with no end in sight, countries like Sweden are urging European allies to take civilian preparedness seriously. Carl-Oskar Bohlin speaks to us during a visit to Paris.