SIPRI Director addresses Sweden’s premier national defence conference: Folk och Försvar

On 12 January, Karim Haggag, SIPRI Director, addressed Folk och Försvars Rikskonferens (an annual conference for the Swedish security and defence policy community).

Held every year since 1946, the conference is a leading platform for discussions on Swedish defence, security policy and crisis preparedness. In attendance were members of the Swedish royal family, including His Majesty the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria. Other speakers and attendees included Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden; Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden; Alexus G. Grynkewich, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe; senior politicians, government ministers, military leaders, diplomats, researchers and representatives from civil society and industry.

Haggag's presentation examined the world after the expiry of the 2010 Russia-United States Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) and the implications for nuclear arms control and disarmament. He highlighted that the end of New START (5 February 2026) is likely to lead to renewed arms race dynamics, reduced transparency and predictability, and negative consequences for the credibility of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Addressing European security, Haggag emphasized that without a successor to New START there is little prospect of establishing an arms control framework to address Russia's tactical nuclear weapons. He called for renewed, Europe-led arms control efforts focused on risk reduction, re-engagement with the USA, and broader participation in future negotiations.

The conference took place on 12-14 January 2026 in Sälen, Sweden. Charlotta Sparre, SIPRI Deputy Director, also attended. The event was livestreamed and Haggag's address is available to view here.