Swedish security advisor reportedly left notebook at NATO summit

Sweden's national security advisor, Niclas Kvarnström, is reportedly under scrutiny after allegedly leaving a notebook behind at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. The Swedish government chancellery is still working to retrieve the document, which was reportedly left in NATO's meeting facilities.

Kvarnström himself has assessed that the notebook does not contain any classified information. The government chancellery shares this assessment, stating that no damage assessment has been conducted due to this belief. However, security expert Jörgen Holmlund has cautioned that even without classified material, the notes could still be sensitive, given Kvarnström's role as the Prime Minister's advisor on foreign and security policy matters.

This incident brings to mind similar security breaches involving Kvarnström's predecessor, Henrik Landerholm. Dagens Nyheter reported in 2025 on multiple occasions where Landerholm misplaced his mobile phone and secret documents. In one instance in 2023, he left secret documents in an unlocked cabinet, which were found by a cleaner reportedly linked to extremist circles. Landerholm was later charged with negligence concerning secret documents.

The Swedish government chancellery confirmed to Dagens Nyheter that Kvarnström did indeed forget the notebook. They stated that NATO is responsible for security and handling procedures for forgotten items within their meeting premises. The chancellery is actively engaged in efforts to recover the notebook.

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Det stemmer at Niclas Kvarnström i forbindelse med Nato-toppmøtet i Ankara glemte igjen en notatbok i Natos møtelokaler, der Nato har ansvaret for sikkerheten og rutiner for håndtering av gjenglemt materiale.