Tuesday, July 15, 2025
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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

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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.
4 minute read
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/slovakia-urges-west-to-engage-in-dialogue-with-russia/

World

Slovakia urges West to engage in dialogue with Russia

The new cold war

Published 2 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Juraj Blanar believes that Western leaders must use diplomacy and dialogue to end the war.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Slovakia’s Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar believes that the war in Ukraine cannot be decided on the battlefield. Instead, he urges the Western world to seek a peaceful solution through direct dialogue with Russia – and warns that continued tensions could lead to a catastrophic large-scale war between NATO and Moscow.

– We do not want a war between Russia and NATO to break out, because that would be the Third World War. We want the conflict to be settled peacefully, Blanar said during a discussion program on Slovak public broadcaster STVR last Sunday.

Blanar emphasized the importance of diplomacy and called for a return to “respect for international law”. He also suggested that the Western world should seek ways to renew contact with Moscow – “and perhaps even forgive everything that has happened”.

Slovakia, like Hungary, has consistently pushed for de-escalation of the conflict and opposed additional EU sanctions against Russia.

The country’s president Peter Pellegrini has also urged EU member states to resume direct talks with Moscow and has simultaneously rejected demands for rapid military buildup within NATO, arguing that defense spending should reflect each country’s own priorities – rather than concerns about Russia.

Russia demands Ukrainian neutrality

Russian officials have condemned the US-led bloc’s decision last week that member countries should raise their defense budgets to 5 percent of GDP – a measure that NATO says will deter the “long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security”.

The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that it has no intentions of attacking any NATO country and has called the accusations “nonsense” – a scare tactic that, according to Moscow, is used by the West to legitimize increased defense spending.

Moscow states that it seeks a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that a lasting agreement must include recognition of the actual situation “on the ground”, as well as Ukrainian neutrality.

According to Putin, contacts between Moscow and Kyiv are being maintained regarding a possible third round of peace negotiations. Previous talks have been held in Turkey, where the parties have exchanged draft peace proposals and carried out several prisoner exchanges.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/environment/peace-activist-urges-nato-russia-cooperation-over-toxic-munitions-on-baltic-sea-floor/

Environment

Peace activist urges NATO–Russia cooperation over toxic munitions on Baltic Sea floor

The new cold war

Published 1 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Approximately 40 tons of hazardous chemical warfare agents lie scattered on the bottom of the Baltic Sea, according to experts.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

An estimated 1.6 million tons of World War II ammunition still lies at the bottom of the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

According to experts, this not only poses a security threat but also a growing environmental risk – and removal should be done through international cooperation rather than individual initiatives.

The majority of the ammunition, primarily left behind by Nazi Germany, consists of conventional shells. However, about 40 tons contain dangerous chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas and phosgene. After decades underwater, many of the containers have begun to corrode, posing a threat to the marine ecosystem and potentially to coastal areas.

– The question was how to deal with the recovery of these poison time bombs for the biosphere of the Baltic Sea. Of course, due to the corrosion of these vessels, there is a danger for the fish and the plants, and other countries, says German publicist and peace activist Bernhard Trautvetter in an interview with RT.

He emphasizes that the responsibility cannot lie with a single country and that NATO countries in the Baltic region, as well as Russia, which has access to these waters through its exclave of Kaliningrad and the St. Petersburg area, must join forces to “pull this time bomb out of the world”.

German pilot project

Germany launched a pilot project in 2023 to salvage the ammunition, conducting work in the Bay of Lübeck, with the first phase completed in April this year. The authorities described the project as a success but acknowledged that further technical adaptations are needed in areas where ammunition concentrations are particularly high.

The initiative has simultaneously raised concerns among environmental organizations, researchers, and neighboring countries about how the recovery affects the marine environment, especially if conducted without cross-border coordination.

Russia has long expressed concern about the chemical legacy of the war and has repeatedly called for an international effort to clear the seabed of war materials. In practice, however, Russia has been kept out of the efforts made so far, largely due to the deteriorated security situation and the frosty relationship with the West following the initiation of the war in Ukraine.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/soaring-weapons-prices-risk-consuming-swedens-nato-buildup/

Sweden

Soaring weapons prices risk consuming Sweden’s NATO buildup

The new cold war

Published 30 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
It remains unclear how much weapons and equipment Sweden's multi-billion investment in defense will actually cover in the end.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Sweden is building up its military like never before – but it’s far from certain that the investments will have the desired effect. Weapons manufacturers’ prices for arms and ammunition have soared, and a large part of the military build-up risks being consumed by increased costs.

– Then we won’t become more dangerous to the adversary, emphasizes Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, Chief of Joint Operations at the Swedish Armed Forces.

According to the Swedish Armed Forces, the war in Ukraine has shown how quickly ammunition and weapon systems are consumed in modern conflicts, and Sweden’s own stockpiles are dimensioned for training and deterrence – not for prolonged combat.

– When it comes to ammunition, we may not have bought as much as we would need in actual combat. Instead, we’ve bought what we think we need for training and maintaining sufficient deterrence, Skoog Haslum tells TT news agency.

To meet the threat, stockpiles must be built up, and Swedish defense industry must be able to quickly scale up production if war breaks out.

Defense industry positive about closer collaboration

The development of new weapons is also accelerating. In Ukraine, for example, new weapon systems, such as marine drones, have been met with countermeasures within just four to six weeks. In Sweden, however, it can take years – sometimes decades – from order to delivery.

To shorten lead times, the Swedish Armed Forces wants to test unfinished products directly in exercises, in close collaboration with the defense industry.

– I believe we’ll become better as Armed Forces, but I also think the industry would develop faster, the Vice Admiral continues.

Defense industry representatives are positive, and Lena Gillström, CEO of Swedish defense company BAE Systems Bofors and chairperson of the Security and Defense Companies Association, sees great benefits in reducing the distance between users and developers.

– By maintaining close dialogue with those who use the systems, we can also see which problems need to be solved. I believe this will be crucial for achieving speed in the system, she says.

She is prepared to send company engineers to exercises to adjust gun turrets and artillery systems in the field – something that currently happens very rarely.

Swedish Parliament wants to borrow €27 billion

As more countries build up their military, the demand for both weapons and ammunition increases – and consequently, prices rise. Ewa Skoog Haslum sees a clear risk that the increased defense allocations won’t translate into actual combat power.

– Absolutely, it’s a risk, and then we won’t get more capability for the Armed Forces. Then we won’t become more dangerous to the adversary, instead we’ll have spent the money on more expensive items, she explains.

The defense budget for 2025 amounts to 143 billion SEK (€13 billion) – a ten percent increase compared to the previous year. This corresponds to 2.4 percent of GDP according to NATO’s calculation model. But to reach NATO’s new goals – 3.5 percent for military defense plus 1.5 percent for civil defense – an additional 70 billion SEK (€6.2 billion) per year is required.

The Swedish Parliament is prepared to borrow up to 300 billion SEK (€27 billion) to accelerate the military build-up and reach the goals by 2032. Of this amount, 50 billion SEK (€4.5 billion) is earmarked for civil defense.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/denmark-signs-defense-pact-enabling-us-military-presence-in-greenland-and-faroe-islands/

World

Denmark signs defense pact enabling US military presence in Greenland and Faroe Islands

The new cold war

Published 12 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen looks forward to enhanced cooperation with the US.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Danish Parliament has voted through an agreement granting the US access to Danish military bases – including military infrastructure in the autonomous regions of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Critics warn of a slide in Danish sovereignty, while the government describes the agreement as a necessary step.

With a broad majority – 94 votes in favor and 11 against – the Danish parliament this week adopted a new defense agreement with the US. The agreement gives US forces the right to use several military facilities on Danish soil, including Karup, Skrydstrup, and Aalborg, as well as access to areas in the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

According to the Danish government, the agreement aims to strengthen Denmark’s cooperation with the US within the framework of NATO. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen emphasizes that the agreement does not imply a permanent troop presence, but rather logistical capabilities and operational flexibility.

The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the US military presence is seen as a way to be ready to respond quickly to crises in the Arctic and North Atlantic – areas that have become more important militarily as the security situation has changed.

The agreement has also attracted criticism from several quarters. Particularly controversial is the clause stipulating that US military personnel will be subject to US jurisdiction, even if they commit crimes against civilians in Denmark. Several opposition politicians have pointed out that this undermines the rule of law and goes against Danish legal tradition.

Shortly before the vote, the leader of the Unity List, Pelle Dragsted, said that the agreement is “harmful to the country”.

– It is an agreement that means that we will have areas in Denmark that are under American jurisdiction. Where Danish authorities cannot exercise control. And where mistreatment of prisoners can occur. It is a gigantic failure towards the Danish population.

With the country’s new DCA agreement with the US, Danish soldiers can expect to see a significant increase in the American presence in Denmark. Photo: 7th Army Training Command/CC BY 2.0

Superpower logic guides decisions

Others believe that the agreement represents a step toward Denmark effectively ceding parts of its territory to a foreign power.

Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both of which have extensive self-government, have been formally informed of the agreement, but neither the Faroese Lagting nor the Greenlandic Inatsisartut have had the right to block the decision. This has led to further criticism, as many see it as Copenhagen bypassing local interests in favor of superpower logic.

In the background is also the geopolitical shift underway in the Arctic, where Russia, China, and the US are all trying to strengthen their positions. The US has previously shown interest in Greenland – not least after Donald Trump’s much-publicized proposal to buy the island – and considers it to be of strategic importance for surveillance and control of the North Atlantic.

The Danish government sees the agreement as a necessary adaptation to a new reality.

– The problem is not too much involvement from the US in Europe. On the contrary, the risk is that the US will withdraw and move troops away or stop donations to Ukraine, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said earlier this week.

At the same time, there are growing concerns that Denmark is also making itself more vulnerable – both politically and militarily – in the event of a future conflict between major powers.

The Folketing’s decision therefore marks not only a deepening of cooperation with the US, but also a change in Denmark’s attitude toward military alliances and sovereignty—a choice that is far from comfortable for all Danes.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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