Saturday, April 19, 2025

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Kristersson pledges continued support for Ukraine and NATO at globalist meeting

The new cold war

Published 21 June 2023
– By Editorial Staff
Ulf Kristersson declared that the US deserves the EU's continued loyalty.

During this year’s edition of the Soros-funded European Council on Foreign Relations meeting in Stockholm, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson gave a speech in which he promised that continued Swedish support for Ukraine is a “top priority”. He declared, among other things, that Sweden will contribute significantly to the NATO military alliance and that EU countries should continue to work closely with the US.

Kristersson noted that China has changed dramatically since the 1970s in almost all areas and that Chinese companies are “conquering the world” – something which, according to the Swedish Prime Minister, is not all good.

– The West and other free market democracies did not realize, I think, the full implications of facing the world’s first economically successful authoritarian non-democracy in modern times. It’s a dramatic change in the way we look at the world. For too long we thought that democracy was the only path to material success. We were obviously wrong. Now China is becoming increasingly repressive at home and assertive abroad.

Ulf Kristersson stresses that China’s development has forced the world’s democracies to work harder to be “competitive and to remain attractive in our role in future geopolitics”.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister argued that “transatlantic unity” is of the utmost importance and thanked the US for its “deep commitment” to the European continent. He proclaimed that the EU should respond to US “support” by showing engagement in the Pacific region, where the US is in conflict with China.

Kristersson also declared that continued support for Ukraine remains one of his highest priorities and that it is something that his party, the Moderate Party, has been focusing on.

We decided to get rid of an almost bizarre legacy of not being able to support a country with military equipment when they need weapons the most. Instead, we have gathered an almost unanimous Parliament to approve 11 military aid packages so far.

“Brave” NATO lobbyists

The staunchly pro-NATO Kristersson describes it as a “milestone” that Sweden has recently abandoned 200 years of neutrality to apply for membership of the military alliance, claiming that with this Sweden has gone “from neutrality to solidarity”.

– It is indeed a question of pragmatic realism and I certainly respect those who could change their minds about NATO when it was simply necessary. But it is also a question of values, so I also honor those brave Swedes who advocated for NATO membership at a time when they received nothing but derision in response.

As a NATO member, Kristersson promises that Sweden will not only seek support from other member states, but also offer increased security in the region. This is because it has geographical advantages both on land and at sea and can become a link between allies in the East and in the Atlantic.

We are strong in the air and below the surface in the Baltic Sea and we know a lot about Russia, not least through exceptional radar capabilities. Our capabilities will make the Alliance stronger. This is our firm conviction.

Continued support to Ukraine

Regarding the Swedish EU Presidency, Kristersson argued that Europe must become “greener, safer and freer” and that the focus is primarily on continued support for Ukraine – and that Ukraine’s future is as a member of the EU. The focus is also on continued cooperation with the US in all areas, he stressed.

In all these aspects of cooperation, from defense to trade and climate, transatlantic cooperation is and should be a cornerstone for the EU.

Regarding China, the Swedish Prime Minister added that he is also concerned about the country’s AI development and how it could be used for mass control of the population. He also lamented the liberalization of China that he and many others in the West hoped for but which never happened.

– The consequences of China’s development will also have a crucial impact on other parts of the world. We would welcome a role for China in a solution to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and end Russia’s illegal aggression. But we are not naive about the long-term partnership between China and Russia, he said, adding that China should not support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Kristersson is also clear that he wants Sweden and the EU countries to clearly take the side of the US – referring to the fact that the US is a democracy, while China is not.

Those who now say why we should have to choose sides between China and the US are simply asking the wrong questions of themselves. As Europeans, we should formulate our own open but firm strategy, but also rely on long-lasting and strong partnerships with the US and other democracies.

Facts: Council on Foreign Relations

The Council on Foreign Relations, or CFR, is an influential globalist lobbying group that has often been described as a de facto permanent government-like institution in the United States. For many years, the CFR has brought together the most influential politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties to discuss policy issues with financial and business leaders.

Its European chapter ECFR was founded in 2007 and has offices in seven European capitals (London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Sofia and Warsaw). Its council has over 300 members and includes former prime ministers, presidents, the European Commission and a variety of business figures and lobbyists. One of the more well-known funders of the Europe Project is ultra-globalist George Soros who, through his Open Society Foundations, donated seed money when the organization was first launched.

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Swedish Major General: “Leave the Ottawa Treaty and buy anti-personnel mines”

The new cold war

Published 16 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Karlis Neretnieks argues that today's anti-personnel mines cannot be compared to those that kill thousands of civilians every year.

Recently The Nordic Times highlighted how the defense ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia announced that they intend to withdraw from the international convention banning the use of anti-personnel mines.

In early April, Finnish officials also confirmed that they are also preparing to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty. Retired Swedish-Latvian Major General Karlis Neretnieks now wants Sweden to do the same and start buying “smart” anti-personnel mines.

– My opinion is clear. We should do what the Finns did, leave the Ottawa Agreement, and acquire anti-personnel mines, declares Neretnieks, who has also previously served as President of the Swedish National Defense College.

He explains that within the NATO military pact, there is a plan for the Swedish army to be able to move quickly to Finland and form joint defense forces with Finnish soldiers in the event of a possible Russian attack. In such a scenario, he argues, the armies of both countries must have similar rules of engagement.

– What should we do when Swedish commanders have to command Finnish units? Should a Swedish commander tell a Finnish commander that you are not allowed to use anti-personnel mines because you are under Swedish command? That’s not how it works in reality.

Kills thousands annually

Finland’s defense minister, Antti Häkkänen, insists that “mines are only for war” and “will not be scattered in the countryside“. However, over the years, anti-personnel mines have caused enormous civilian suffering and in 2021 alone, an estimated 5,500 people were killed by them many of them children.

Millions of undestroyed anti-personnel mines remain in former war zones around the world and can detonate at any time when someone accidentally steps on them. This is also one of the primary reasons why some 160 countries around the world have committed to stop stockpiling, producing or using them.

However, Neretnieks argues that today’s modern anti-personnel mines can be turned on and off by remote control and he emphasizes that some models stop working after a certain amount of time.

– The reason for removing the mines was that they were often left behind after the fighting was over. Then they were dangerous for children, farmers and anyone walking around the terrain… I’m advocating that we abandon the Ottawa agreement and get these anti-personnel mines with self-destruction, he continues.

“Were far too enthusiastic”

Sweden signed the convention in 1998, the year after it was drafted, but the major general says it was a big mistake.

– I think we were far too enthusiastic about a ban at the height of the discussions in 1996-1997. It was quite obvious that the Russians had no intention of signing anything like that, he states.

It should be noted that it is not only Russia that has chosen not to sign the convention. Major military powers such as the US and China have so far also refused to sign the Ottawa Treaty, as have Israel, India, Iran and both North and South Korea.

Moderate Youth League: Raise the retirement age to finance Sweden’s rearmament

The new cold war

Published 15 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Raising the retirement age to fund the Swedish defense effort is not expected to be well received by the electorate.

As reported by The Nordic Times, Swedish politicians have decided to borrow at least SEK 300 billion (€26 billion) for what is described as the “biggest rearmament since the Cold War”.

Douglas Thor, chair of The Moderate Youth League (MUF), fully supports the military investment – but emphasizes that it should be paid for by older Swedes through a higher retirement age.

The governing politicians agree that it is reasonable to borrow the equivalent of €4,400 for each Swede of working age for the military project, and analysts have noted that it will largely be future generations of Swedes who will have to pay for the decisions made today.

– It’s clear that future generations will have to take a bigger hit than if we were to just go on this year’s budget. But it also seems reasonable that future generations should help finance reconstruction because it will also benefit them, commented, for example, Daniel Waldenström, professor of economics, and continued:

– It’s simply that they will have to pay a bit more tax as a result of this. They will have to pay taxes to finance our repayment of these loans.

“In the long run, everyone will pay”

Just like the other establishment parties’ youth wings, MUF applauds the military investment, but believes older Swedes must bear a greater share of the cost – not just the younger generation.

– Borrowing money is not free. The costs are postponed to the future, which means that the younger generation has to pay. We are happy to contribute, but it is unreasonable that we alone should bear the cost, they say.

Thor’s solution is to raise the age at which older people can start drawing their pension from the current 63 to 67.

– Today, people can start drawing their income and premium pensions at the age of 63. We believe it is reasonable to raise it. One possible age is 67, confirms the Muf leader, who states that raising the retirement age is a much better option than raising taxes.

– In the long run, everyone will pay because we are all getting older. When our country has faced difficult challenges in the past, we have coped by working more, Thor argues.

Unpopular measure

Raising the retirement age to fund military spending is not expected to be a particularly popular message with voters but Thor says this does not matter much.

– There are many issues that were previously unthinkable, but which have been reconsidered in this serious international situation. For example, loan financing has been reconsidered. It should be possible to do the same with regard to this issue.

According to Muf’s calculations, if older Swedes worked two years longer than they do today, this would mean around SEK 30 billion (€2.6 billion) extra to the public purse annually about half the contribution needed to meet the government’s target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defense.

International law expert on the Swedish suicide drones: “Risk that civilians are affected”

The new cold war

Published 10 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Ove Bring points out that commanders who accidentally injure or kill civilians can be prosecuted for this - but that it usually requires that the deaths are extensive.

The Swedish military plans to acquire several million military drones. This includes so-called “suicide drones” – and in two years’ time, Swedish kamikaze drone systems could be in operation.

Ove Bring, an expert in international law, notes that the type of drone is certainly not prohibited under international law – but that there is always a risk of civilians being killed.

The drones are equipped with explosive charges and, with the help of artificial intelligence, can fly around until they find their target – whereupon they fly into it and explode.

– A human operator sets them off and then they can fly on their own, find targets and attack targets on their own, explained AI and weapons scientist Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou in 2022, clarifying that the suicide drones “can fly into the target on their own, explode and destroy the target”.

Many observers are critical of the technology development. The ability of unmanned aerial vehicles to kill and destroy on their own risks blurring the lines of responsibility, increasing the risk of civilian casualties and wrong decisions being made.

Others have warned that warfare is being dehumanized and that we are moving towards a development where autonomous weapon systems make lethal decisions without human intervention.

– A machine should not be allowed to decide on the life and death of a human being, says Deborah Solomon of the Swedish Peace Society.

“There is the risk that civilians are affected”

Ove Bring, professor emeritus of international law and former advisor to the Swedish Foreign Ministry on international law, admits that the use of drones can result in civilian deaths – but also emphasizes that suicide drones do not violate international law.

– This type of drone is not prohibited by international law as it is designed to hit military targets, but there is always the risk that civilians are affected, he says to The Nordic Times.

He notes that commanders who, in violation of the humanitarian law principles of precaution and proportionality, happen to harm civilians can also be prosecuted for this – at least in theory. However, this usually presupposes that the injuries or deaths are extensive.

If, on the other hand, a military target is hit by the drones – but civilians are also killed during the same attack, this does not violate any laws or conventions, the professor says.

– If the military target is hit and civilians are exposed to minor collateral damage, it must be accepted as an inevitable part of warfare. It is not considered a war crime, he concludes.

Peace researcher urges diplomacy: “War leads to total destruction”

The new cold war

Published 10 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
According to Frida Stranne, it is important that our leaders have the capacity for "strategic empathy".

As war rhetoric has escalated in recent years, advocates of peace and diplomacy have increasingly been met with suspicion, demonization, and stigmatization in public discourse – often accused of being either out of touch with reality or so-called “useful idiots” for the enemy.

However, Swedish peace researcher and US expert Frida Stranne notes that peace is neither frivolous nor naïve – but in fact “the only alternative to the total destruction of countries, societies and our shared environment.”.

Stopping a spiral of violence that risks leading us all to our deaths is one of the main tasks of politics. The dialogue that must precede peace requires far more intelligence and courage than pushing for increased militarization”, she wrote on Facebook, citing the Cuban Missile Crisis as a telling example.

John F. Kennedy, when he saved the world from nuclear war in 1962, understood the importance of understanding the interests and pretexts that drove his opponents. He also realized how poor intelligence (and propaganda from within his own ranks), political peer pressure, and an over-reliance on military solutions risked leading him to foolish and fatal decisions”, she continues.

According to Stranne, Kennedy also understood the importance of avoiding symbolic actions to satisfy public opinion – but lacked strategic thinking.

He realized that either he would contribute to an acceptable level of security for both the Soviets and the US, or no one would be safe”.

“Don’t have to be a pacifist”

Stranne points out that the Swedish diplomat Hans Blix similarly spoke of the need for “strategic empathy” – that is, it is the task of politicians to try to understand how other states or actors perceive the current situation, and what interests, fears or motives drive them to act as they do.

This does not mean sympathizing with them, but having the wisdom to understand their perspective in order to anticipate the other’s actions and thus make wiser decisions yourself – and avoid endless wars and, in the worst case, nuclear war”, she explains.

You don’t have to be a pacifist to talk about ending war and building a sustainable peace – in fact, you can be a staunch advocate of strong military defense. Nor do you need to be naïve about your opponent. But you do need to realize that more weapons alone can never bring stability and security as long as unresolved security dilemmas remain”, continues the peace researcher.

Looking away is the greatest cowardice

And above all, she stresses, our leaders need to abandon the idea that war can be understood in oversimplified terms of good and evil

Looking away from your own responsibility in a conflict is the most cowardly and dangerous thing of all.”.

Stranne also points out that in all wars – without exception – there are also interests that profit from war and rearmament and that have very extensive resources at their disposal that they can use to influence the public and their worldview in various ways.

We have endless knowledge of how this works and several horrifying examples of how we have been lured into senseless spirals of violence on false grounds. It is the role of the media to never lose sight of their task to critically examine power based on these experiences. And not to let social media feeds driven by emotions – and not by knowledge – define how war and peace should be described”, she concludes.

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