Sweden will establish its first emergency grain stocks in the north, investing 575 million kronor ($60 million) to ensure food security in the event of a crisis or war.

The reserves will be located in Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Västernorrland, and Jämtland, regions currently dependent on grain transported from the south.

Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin emphasized that northern Sweden is strategically important for the military and total defense, aiming to ensure the population can access food during crises.

The plan is part of Sweden’s broader “total defense” strategy, revived in 2015 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and strengthened following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, CBS News has reported.

The move comes amid heightened regional tensions, including suspected Russian submarine activity in the Baltic Sea, prompting NATO monitoring operations.