Sweden is preparing to fill its grain silos for the first time since the Cold War amid concerns over potential conflict with Russia.

Following its 2024 NATO membership and the end of military non-alignment, the government plans to invest £45 million to build emergency grain reserves, particularly in northern regions vulnerable to isolation.

Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin emphasized the strategic importance of northern Sweden and the urgency of establishing local storage to maintain supply chains during crises.

The move is part of Sweden’s broader “total defence” strategy, aimed at mobilizing all of society to withstand armed aggression while keeping essential functions running, Metro has reported.

Meanwhile, EU defence ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss measures, including a proposed “drone wall,” to strengthen Europe’s readiness against Russian threats, though some countries express caution about overlapping NATO responsibilities.