Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist and supporters of non-socialist parties involved in political debates have motivated Sweden's stockpile of weapons by saying that "the security situation has deteriorated in our neighboring regions" - all because of "growing Russian aggression". the annexation of Crimea ”and Russia's major investments in the armed forces. The media does not question these "recurring mantras" at all, accepting and broadcasting this picture of the world as the only and infallible truth, but according to the honorary professor from Salander, all this is a false construction.
As the expert notes in an article for Dagens Arena, in this context it is worth recalling Sweden's repeated participation in NATO exercises, clearly aimed at Russia in the Baltic Sea; for the fact that Gotland police forces are trained by US Marines, and that Sweden has allowed the United States and NATO to use the country's territory to test new weapons systems. Also, the author writes, we should not forget about the agreement with NATO, which implies that Sweden will accept Allied troops on its territory, as well as the country's accession to Stratcom, a company based in the Baltic States, whose official goal is to act in the name of NATO's interests in all situations. Not surprisingly, Salander said, Russia is responding.
As for the issue of Crimea, the professor recalls that there is a giant Russian Black Sea military base near Sevastopol. In 1990, during the negotiations for the reunification of Germany and the impending dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, NATO promised not to expand "an inch to the east." Today, however, about a dozen eastern countries have already joined NATO, with Ukraine and Georgia next. And if Ukraine becomes a member of NATO, the Sevastopol base in Crimea will, of course, disappear.
It may also be added that Crimea historically belonged to Russia until 1954, when Khrushchev donated the peninsula to Ukraine. The native language of most Crimeans is Russian, which dominates the media and culture. According to the testimony of Professor Richard Sakwa, a British political scientist and publicist, a specialist in the study of political processes in Russia, the majority of the population of Crimea is in favor of unification with Russia. So, the author writes, Russia has special relations with Crimea and hints that Sweden may be under the same threat as the peninsula are completely implausible.
With regard to Russia's stockpile of weapons, the author suggests citing figures. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia's military contributions increased by 2.5% in 2019-2020, but the United States increased its spending in this area by 4.4% and Sweden by 6.7%. . Russia's military contributions have fallen to 6% of NATO's defense spending. It should also be remembered that the United States, not Russia, has withdrawn from the Open Skies Treaty and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which makes it more difficult to control what the enemy is doing, and it is now possible to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Europe.
Comparing all the above facts, Per Salander concludes: the alleged Russian aggression is primarily a divisive structure designed to motivate Sweden's gradual integration with the United States and NATO, and the Swedish Minister of Defense with his actions and words "wants to give America a strategic position in the North Europe is thus undermining the Swedish tradition of staying out of alliances. "
"New billions from the pockets of Swedish taxpayers are going to the army. The military is winning, not to mention specifically - the military industry led by SAAB. Our security policy would be more useful if we were really interested in our position not to enter into alliances and to support dialogue. And then the money will remain in the treasury for real, not fictitious needs - health and social protection, "concludes the author of the article.
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