Michael de Laine

Swedish Liberals leader wants to re-arm against Russian threat

By Michael de Laine, Copenhagen, 26^th January 2009

The Swedish Liberal Party leader backs a former minister of defence in a call to re-arm the Nordic country in the face of a more aggressive tone from Russia.

The Swedish Liberal Party leader Jan Björklund has backed recent comments by former minister of defence Björn von Sydow in a call to re-arm the Nordic country in the face of a more aggressive tone from the Russian political establishment.

Together with these new tones, armament in Russia means Sweden must strengthen its armed forces and station armed forces again on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, Björklund says.

The minister of education in the four-party government of Frederik Reinfeldt, Björklund believes the situation in Russia requires a closer focus on domestic defence capabilities.

According to national broadcaster Sveriges Radio, Björklund says, “The gradual reductions in the Swedish Armed Forces, which have taken place for almost 20 years, must be reconsidered. We need to start strengthening our ability to defend Sweden. What we can now see happening in Russia has actually been evident for several years.”

Carl Bildt, the minister of foreign affairs, has also been outspoken in his criticism of the tone employed by the current Russian political establishment.

Von Sydow said in a newspaper comment last week that Russia poses an increasing threat to all of its neighbouring states.