Sweden

Unclear or shifting (AMBIG), since 2024-05-15, points both ways (AMBIGUOUS)

Sweden's own words point two ways. In its 2024 submission it backs the two-tier approach: weapons that cannot be used lawfully should be expressly prohibited, and the rest regulated. That points toward a treaty with bans. The same submission says the form of regulation still needs thought, that what states can agree on remains to be seen, and that parallel processes and instruments without key states would not help. Sweden has never said, in a record opened here, that the instrument should be legally binding. In November 2025 it joined a statement saying future negotiations must not prejudge the nature of their outcome. Sweden voted Yes on all three UN resolutions.

Sweden says systems that cannot be used lawfully should be expressly prohibited, and the rest regulated, with the form left open.

While the former ones should be expressly prohibited the latter ones would benefit from regulation, the form of which needs further thought and elaboration

Swedish input to the Report of the Secretary General of the United Nations in accordance with resolution 78/241 'Lethal autonomous weapons systems', 2024-05-15 source

Sweden leaves open what type of regulation states can agree on.

What type of regulation HCP can agree upon remains to be seen

Swedish input to the Report of the Secretary General of the United Nations in accordance with resolution 78/241 'Lethal autonomous weapons systems', 2024-05-15 source

Sweden objects to parallel processes and instruments without key stakeholders.

This problem will not be resolved by creating parallel processes and instruments which are not supported by key stakeholders

Swedish input to the Report of the Secretary General of the United Nations in accordance with resolution 78/241 'Lethal autonomous weapons systems', 2024-05-15 source

Sweden is among fifteen states on whose behalf the UK said future negotiations must stay in the CCW and not prejudge their outcome.

any future negotiations must take place within the framework of the CCW and must not prejudge the nature of their outcome

General Assembly First Committee, 80th session, 24th meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2025-11-04 source

At the final 2026 session Sweden supported the draft report and called the CCW the appropriate forum.

The draft report demonstrates that this group is capable of meeting its mandate and that the CCW remains the appropriate forum for laws.

CCW Group of Governmental Experts on LAWS, 2026 second session, 1st meeting, automatic speech recognition transcript, 2026-08-31 source