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Wednesday, May 7, 2025

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/nato-in-focus-at-swedish-leaders-conference/

Sweden

NATO in focus at Swedish leaders’ conference

The new cold war

Published 7 January 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Magdalena Andersson, Ulf Kristersson, Jens Stoltenberg and others at last year's conference.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

This weekend’s national conference, Folk och Försvar (People and Defense), will bring together leaders to discuss issues related to Sweden’s defense and security policy. The conference will “shape a future vision and identity for defense and security policy” after the country’s government decided to abandon centuries of non-alignment for membership in the US-led military alliance NATO.

Each year, the Central Association for People and Defense organizes a “national conference in a mountain setting” that brings together Swedish government politicians, military, intelligence, media and business leaders.

In previous years, the focus has been on combating criticism of climate policy and covid-19 vaccination campaigns. This year’s focus is on the war in Ukraine and the historic shift in Sweden’s political leadership from traditional non-alignment to seeking to join the NATO military alliance.

The conference will begin on Sunday, January 7, when Sweden’s foreign minister will address the future of Swedish security policy. On the same day, participants will also ask questions of Swedish Foreign Minister Magdalena Andersson in a session titled Sweden in a New World Order.

Finland’s ambassador to Sweden will also be present to talk about Finland, NATO and long-term support for Ukraine.

“Threats to Sweden”

A recurring theme is that Sweden is said to be “threatened” in various ways from within and without, and several of the program items reflect this kind of perception. Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M) will speak about “the changing security situation”, and representatives of the military intelligence service Must, the Swedish Defence Radio Agency FRA and Säpo will also discuss the topic during the event entitled Threats to Sweden – a ‘perfect storm’?

Swedish security police chief Charlotte von Essen during the national conference in 2023. Photo: Ulf Palm/Folk och Försvar.

Magnus Hjort, Director General of the Swedish Psychological Defense Agency (MPF), will also be present to talk about “threats and external influences”.

There will also be a strong focus on Sweden as a future NATO country, where Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will share his vision for Sweden’s future as an ally, and where NATO strategist Angus Lapsley has been invited to speak on A changed alliance in a new world.

Sweden’s Supreme Commander Micael Bydén will also attend the event to discuss The role of the Swedish Armed Forces in NATO.

“The commitment of the whole population”

Much energy will also be devoted to discussing the theme that Sweden’s security is the concern of the entire Swedish population. Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M), Minister for Civil Defense, will speak about “creating societal resilience”.

We need to talk about duty! and The commitment of the whole population are two other points on the theme, and Sweden’s strategy for military escalation and high alert will also be discussed in several points, as well as strategies for leadership in “crisis and war”.

Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin. Photo: Ulf Palm

Even “democracy” itself is said to be under threat. How does democracy survive to the next generation? is one of the topics discussed.

Food as a political tool, Trade relations and geopolitics, Human rights in an inhuman world, and The new non-peace – what awaits Sweden? are some other examples of the event’s agenda.

Diverse group of participants

It should be noted that the moderator for this year’s event is former SVT profile Karin Hübinette, who is now project manager for the think tank Future of Democracy, where former EU minister Cecilia Wikström and former TV4 director Jan Scherman are also listed as “senior advisors”.

The neo-conservative profile and writer Patrik Oksanen, known for his commitment to NATO and his work against dissident opinion makers and media channels, which he has mainly linked to the Russian regime, also participates in the seminar What kind of future are we facing?

Patrik Oksanen also participated last year. Photo. Ulf Palm/People and Defense

The political editor-in-chief of Schibsted’s Aftonbladet newspaper, Anders Lindberg, will also speak, as will MSB’s director general, Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, who has previously been accused of corruption and links to the globalist think tank World Economic Forum.

Folk- och Försvar’s board is chaired by Jan-Olof Jacke, CEO of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, and vice-chaired by Susanna Gideonsson of the Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions. The Swedish Bar Association, Save the Children and the youth organizations of the Centre Party and the Christian Democrats also have representatives on Folk- och Försvar’s board.

Affiliated member organizations include Swedish trade union umbrella organization LO, the Swedish Bankers’ Association, the Red Cross, the Church of Sweden and the political youth organizations.

Security policy identity

The activities of the Central Association are mainly financed by a large grant from the Ministry of Defense, membership fees and participation fees for conferences and study trips. Some projects are also funded by project grants.

“Sweden’s application for NATO membership in 2022 marked a turning point in the country’s defense and security soul, a change that is now undoubtedly beginning to shape our national identity. But the question remains: how? In this new, turbulent world, it is also necessary to shape a future defense and security vision and identity. We need to define not only what Sweden is today, but also what we want to be in this changing world”, the organizers wrote in a press release.

According to their own statement, the main purpose of the conference is to “initiate a journey by highlighting the building of a robust total defense and exploring the contours of the new Swedish defense and security identity. We focus on highlighting both established and newly formed structures that play a crucial role in this change”.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/world/german-left-party-leader-calls-for-nato-replacement-involving-russia/

World

German left party leader calls for NATO replacement – involving Russia

The new cold war

Published yesterday 11:47
– By Editorial Staff
According to Jan van Aken, NATO has outplayed its role - and a new alliance should take shape instead.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Jan van Aken, co-chair of the German left-wing party Die Linke, wants NATO to eventually be replaced by a new international security alliance that includes both Russia and the US.

In an interview with Die Zeit, he said that the NATO-led structure has no future and should be replaced by a more cooperative system.

– We have never wanted to abolish NATO without replacement, but rather to replace it with a cooperative security system, van Aken said in the interview published over the weekend.

He referred to his party’s 2011 manifesto, which proposes that Germany leave NATO in favor of a new collective security arrangement. Van Aken proposes a model similar to the OECD – a kind of “OECD 2.0” – where the focus is on peacekeeping and joint defense.

– A peace and defense alliance together with Russia and the US. But of course, such a structure would require at least ten years of confidence-building measures. During that time, NATO would remain in place – but it has no future, in my opinion, he added.

In addition to his criticism of NATO, van Aken also called for the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Germany – including the nuclear weapons they carry with them. He pointed out that the UK and France already have more than enough nuclear arsenals of their own.

Dreaming of a demilitarized Europe

Van Aken also confirmed that the vision of a demilitarized Europe remains central to the German left-wing party – a controversial and unusual stance in these times.

– Of course I want to live in a country without an army. Don’t you? he asked rhetorically.

The interview was published at a sensitive political moment, with Germany recently announcing a new military aid package for Ukraine, including air defense missiles and artillery. Incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also expressed support for sending Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine – a weapon capable of reaching deep into Russian territory.

This has led to strong criticism from Moscow, which has warned that a German decision to deliver the weapons would make the country an active party in the war, as Russia claims that the Taurus system cannot be operated without German personnel.

Die Linke has consistently opposed arms deliveries to Ukraine and instead advocated a ceasefire and diplomatic solutions.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/survivors-warn-civilians-will-die-as-europe-reintroduces-anti-personnel-mines/

World

Survivors warn: Civilians will die as Europe reintroduces anti-personnel mines

The new cold war

Published 28 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Millions of anti-personnel mines remain in the ground around the world after wars and conflicts - killing or maiming thousands every year.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Five European countries – Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – have announced plans to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines.

However, the decisions have been met with strong criticism from human rights organizations and survivors, who warn that it is civilians who will suffer the most.

In mid-April, Latvia became the first country to formally vote to leave the treaty, which has over 165 signatories. The decision is described as a historic step backwards by those working to combat the use of mines.

– It feels like a punch to the face, said Zoran Ješić in an interview with The Guardian. He lost his right leg to a mine during the Bosnian War and now heads UDAS, an organization for landmine survivors.

– Antipersonnel landmines do horrible things to innocent people. They belong to a small group of weapons, including chemical and biological weapons, that are so abhorrent they must never be used again, he continues.

Ješić was 21 years old and a soldier in the Bosnian army when he stepped on a mine in a forest.

– As I later heard, it was our mine. The point is that when you put a mine in the ground, you never know what will happen. Will it wait for your soldiers, your civilians or the enemies? Usually, it hurts your people.

“It’s about the norms of war”

And the statistics confirm his claims. Every year, 70-85% of all those killed or injured by mines are civilians. Almost half of the victims are children – a reminder of the weapons’ inability to distinguish between combatants and innocent people.

Alma Taslidžan from Humanity & Inclusion, an organization working with disabled and vulnerable groups, expresses concern that the decisions could create a dangerous domino effect:

– This is really a tipping point for us. It’s not only about landmines. It is about the norms that are written for the situation of wartimes – we’re afraid this is going to create a wave of weakening the international humanitarian law that has the first obligation to protect civilians.

In March, the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland published a joint declaration referring to the war in Ukraine and increased security threats.

– With this decision, we are sending a clear message: our countries are prepared and can use every necessary measure to defend our security needs, the statement read.

Warning against myths about “smart mines”

Finland, which shares a border with Russia stretching over 1,300 kilometers, later joined the group, with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo saying that withdrawal would give the country “the opportunity to prepare for changes in the security situation in a more versatile way”.

However, Taslidžan emphasizes that even if the threat were real, the choice of weapon is still wrong – precisely because it is civilians who will suffer the most.

– Choosing the most indiscriminate weapon amongst all to say that you are going to defend your country, that is wrong. Security cannot be built on a weapon that kills indiscriminately, that remains in the ground long after the conflict has ended and that specifically maims civilians.

She also warns against myths about “smart mines” with self-destruction mechanisms and claims that these are safe for the civilian population.

– That’s bizarre information. There is no smart mine that can think for itself and say, ‘Oh, civilians, we won’t explode now’.

American soldiers with mines in Iraq. Photo: U.S. Army/SPC Derek Gaines

Red Cross: “Extremely alarming”

Maya Brehm, legal advisor at the International Red Cross, describes the development as “extremely alarming”.

– From our perspective – and this is also a perspective shared by military authorities – whatever limited military value anti-personnel mines may still have in today’s conflicts, it is vastly outweighed by the appalling and long-lasting humanitarian consequences, she emphasizes.

Norway, which also borders Russia, has chosen to remain in the treaty, and Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has expressed regret over Finland’s decision:

– This particular decision (by Finland) is something we regret. If we start weakening our commitment, it makes it easier for warring factions around the world to use these weapons again, because it reduces the stigma, he commented.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, an estimated 3 million mines remain in the ground since the 1990s war and continue to kill and maim men, women, and children.

– This is not something you can just put in the ground and then pick up again when the war is over, Zoran Ješić explains grimly.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-major-general-leave-the-ottawa-treaty-and-buy-anti-personnel-mines/

Sweden

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.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/moderate-youth-league-raise-the-retirement-age-to-finance-swedens-rearmament/

Sweden

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.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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