NATO Defense Foreign Ministers will meet on Friday for an additional meeting on the situation in Ukraine, led by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
The background is that in the late autumn Russia gathered tens of thousands – according to some observers – about 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border. Russia also demanded, among other things, that no more countries be allowed to join NATO.
During the morning, Magdalena Anderson (S) and Jens Stoltenberg discussed the tense situation, which the Prime Minister later commented on on Twitter:
“Thank you to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg for our conversation about the importance of preserving the European security system and deepening the partnership between Sweden and NATO,” Andersen wrote.
“Non-negotiable”
According to Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist (S), today’s conversation was, among other things, about Sweden’s view of Russia’s actions.
This means that we believe that the European security system should be implemented, that the sovereignty of states should be respected and that we have the full right to make our security policy decisions. We do not consider it negotiable. Sweden is a sovereign country and we choose who we cooperate with, Hultqvist told TT.
He adds:
Our position is very clear in this context. The demands made by Russia are not acceptable.
Trinidad and Tobago: What signals did NATO give to Sweden?
– I cannot see that NATO has any other views than what we have from the Swedish side. According to the indications they gave, it is not possible to negotiate a change in the European security system or accept them as an organization that others regulate who should be allowed to join.
According to the Minister of Defense, neither NATO nor Sweden have any interest in changing Sweden’s partnership.
“dangerous situation”
Hultqvist further says that the security situation has deteriorated over time.
– Of course, this is a dangerous situation where the Russian side demands a change in the entire European security system and where it also has an attitude towards other countries that are in conflict with international law and international law.
Trinidad and Tobago: Does the situation affect Sweden’s emergency preparedness?
The armed forces have taken measures during Christmas and New Year and are always ready to take measures if necessary.
However, Hultqvist does not want to go any further in the measures it revolves around, but adds that it pertains to the Navy, Land Forces, Air Defense and the cyber dimension.
“good conversation”
Also, on Thursday, Magdalena Anderson held talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö. According to Peter Hultqvist, Finland has been highlighted for controversy over Swedish membership in NATO, but he maintains that the streak of the neighboring country is also consistent.
– There are no signs from the Finnish side that they are facing rapid change as they can apply for NATO membership, says Hultqvist.
Jens Stoltenberg also commented on Twitter and wrote that he had a “good conversation with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson about Russia’s military structure and European security issues.”
“Sweden is a respected partner in NATO and we support each country’s right to freely choose its security agreements,” Stoltenberg wrote.
Next week, representatives from Russia will meet in three separate meetings with representatives from the United States, NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Prime Minister Magdalena Anderson (S). Photo gallery. Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard / AP
Facts: Russia’s demands from NATO
Here are some of the demands – called “security proposals” by Russia – that it wants NATO and the US to agree to:
* Rule out further NATO expansion, including Ukraine’s joining the military alliance.
* Not adding more troops and weapons to the countries that became members of NATO after 1997 (ie all the former Eastern Bloc countries).
* Not to conduct NATO operations in Ukraine, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
* Not to establish US bases in countries that were former members of the Soviet Union but not members of NATO.
In addition, it is proposed, among other things, that Russia and the United States together agree not to place nuclear weapons outside their territories, not to designate each other as opponents, not to train other countries to deal with nuclear weapons and not to place bombers or ships in areas where they They can attack the other side.
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