'Not in war, but not in peace' - Sweden gets ready to new dangerous times
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (photo: Getty Images)
On Sunday, the annual conference “People and Defense” began in Selena. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson spoke at the conference, SVT reports.
Mr. Kristersson emphasized that despite the fact that Sweden is not currently at war, it is not at peace either. He noted that true peace is possible only under the condition of freedom and the absence of conflicts between countries.
“Sweden is not at war. But there is no peace either,” Kristersson said.
The Prime Minister noted that Sweden and its neighbors are facing hybrid attacks, which include computer hacking, disinformation, threats of sabotage and financial fraud.
According to Kristersson, the Russian threat is a long-term one, and Sweden must strengthen its defense accordingly.
“Cyberspace is an additional element of modern defense,” he emphasized.
Magdalena Andersson, on the other hand, drew attention to the challenges of our time.
“We live in a new, dangerous, and uncertain time,” she said.
She also emphasized the risks associated with climate change, extreme weather conditions, and Sweden's vulnerability due to the transfer of important public tasks to private companies, often with foreign ownership.
Andersson mentioned the upcoming Trump administration in the United States, emphasizing the change in approaches to international cooperation.
“This is an administration that has a different approach to international cooperation than before,” she said.
At the same time, Andersson noted that Denmark has already felt this in connection with Trump's statement on Greenland.
Trump's statement on Greenland
After winning the US election, Donald Trump said he would like to buy Greenland. After that, his eldest son visited Greenland and posted on social media photos of locals wearing Trump hats.
Against the backdrop of Trump's encroachments, Denmark began to strengthen the defense of Greenland. The EU, in turn, called for respect for the independence of the union's member states, including Denmark. Meanwhile, the island itself has declared its desire for independence.
Read more about what Trump's statements mean in RBC-Ukraine's article.
