Sweden will deepen its cooperation with NATO. That message comes after Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s (S) crisis talks with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. Among other things, it is important to coordinate Sweden’s and NATO’s planning, Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist (S) tells DN.
On Friday morning, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson had a telephone meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The conversation was a preparation for the extra-ordinary meeting that Stoltenberg began in the afternoon with the foreign ministers of the 30 NATO countries.
NATO’s agenda included “Russia’s military build-up in and around Ukraine and broader European security issues.” In plain text: the Russian military threat and how NATO should respond to Russia’s ultimate demands on the alliance and the countries of Europe.
Sweden and Finland are not part of the defense alliance, but are at the same time the two non-members in Europe that have the closest cooperation with NATO. After her conversation with Stoltenberg, Magdalena Andersson announced on Twitter:
“Thank you, NATO Secretary General, for our conversation about the importance of maintaining and deepening the partnership between Sweden and NATO.”
Stoltenberg acknowledged with the words: “Good conversation with the Swedish Prime Minister to discuss Russia’s military structure in and around Ukraine and European security. Sweden is an esteemed NATO partner and we support each nation’s right to freely choose its own security arrangements ”.
On DN’s questions to Magdalena Andersson about how cooperation with NATO should now be deepened, her press secretary refers to Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist:
– It is about the step-by-step deepening that we have previously reported on. It is an exercise collaboration, exchange of information and also about the Riksdag decision that has been made on coordinated planning, says Hultqvist.
Coordinated planning between NATO and Sweden?
– Yes you could say that. I feel that we have a very good relationship with NATO and it is a positive and good relationship that is deepened through exercises, says Peter Hultqvist and adds:
– We have a parliamentary decision as a basis for our in-depth study and our actions. And we also have decisions on deeper cooperation at our party congress.
But Russia is sharply criticizing Sweden, no later than December 24, for exercises with NATO. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova then accused both Sweden and Finland of leasing their territories to carry out attacks with nuclear weapons.
They have become increasingly active in participating in large-scale NATO exercises – including hosting maneuver maneuvers with nuclear weapons against a “comparable” enemy. They should be fully aware of what it means to launch a nuclear attack on a neighboring state. If not, then they are naive, “said Maria Zakharova.
She then compared the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, and said that a nuclear attack would have much worse consequences. She then threateningly suggested that retaliation could take place
“With exercises involving the deployment of nuclear weapons against neighboring countries, ask yourself, what will happen to you?”, Maria Zakharova asked rhetorically.
Sweden’s Minister of Defense categorically rejects the Russian claims:
– We do not practice nuclear attacks on anyone else. It is misinformation and a pure error. We are not the basis for such a thing. We practice with American forces, with NATO forces with many other countries in our immediate area and it is well known. But of course we are also exposed to misinformation, Peter Hultqvist answers.
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Sweden will deepen its cooperation with NATO. That message comes after Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s (S) crisis talks with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg. Among other things, it is important to coordinate Sweden’s and NATO’s planning, Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist (S) tells DN.
On Friday morning, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson had a telephone meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The conversation was a preparation for the extra-ordinary meeting that Stoltenberg began in the afternoon with the foreign ministers of the 30 NATO countries.
NATO’s agenda included “Russia’s military build-up in and around Ukraine and broader European security issues.” In plain text: the Russian military threat and how NATO should respond to Russia’s ultimate demands on the alliance and the countries of Europe.
Sweden and Finland are not part of the defense alliance, but are at the same time the two non-members in Europe that have the closest cooperation with NATO. After her conversation with Stoltenberg, Magdalena Andersson announced on Twitter:
“Thank you, NATO Secretary General, for our conversation about the importance of maintaining and deepening the partnership between Sweden and NATO.”
Stoltenberg acknowledged with the words: “Good conversation with the Swedish Prime Minister to discuss Russia’s military structure in and around Ukraine and European security. Sweden is an esteemed NATO partner and we support each nation’s right to freely choose its own security arrangements ”.
On DN’s questions to Magdalena Andersson about how cooperation with NATO should now be deepened, her press secretary refers to Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist:
– It is about the step-by-step deepening that we have previously reported on. It is an exercise collaboration, exchange of information and also about the Riksdag decision that has been made on coordinated planning, says Hultqvist.
Coordinated planning between NATO and Sweden?
– Yes you could say that. I feel that we have a very good relationship with NATO and it is a positive and good relationship that is deepened through exercises, says Peter Hultqvist and adds:
– We have a parliamentary decision as a basis for our in-depth study and our actions. And we also have decisions on deeper cooperation at our party congress.
But Russia is sharply criticizing Sweden, no later than December 24, for exercises with NATO. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova then accused both Sweden and Finland of leasing their territories to carry out attacks with nuclear weapons.
They have become increasingly active in participating in large-scale NATO exercises – including hosting maneuver maneuvers with nuclear weapons against a “comparable” enemy. They should be fully aware of what it means to launch a nuclear attack on a neighboring state. If not, then they are naive, “said Maria Zakharova.
She then compared the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, and said that a nuclear attack would have much worse consequences. She then threateningly suggested that retaliation could take place
“With exercises involving the deployment of nuclear weapons against neighboring countries, ask yourself, what will happen to you?”, Maria Zakharova asked rhetorically.
Sweden’s Minister of Defense categorically rejects the Russian claims:
– We do not practice nuclear attacks on anyone else. It is misinformation and a pure error. We are not the basis for such a thing. We practice with American forces, with NATO forces with many other countries in our immediate area and it is well known. But of course we are also exposed to misinformation, Peter Hultqvist answers.
feels like you rope is preparing for war
Good.