Government split over military threat faced by Sweden
Although the government and opposition parties have both agreed to increase military spending, a war of words broke out over exactly how much of a threat the country faces.
A new report from the cross-party group working on defence matters says that an armed attack on Sweden “cannot be ruled out”.
The leadership of the ruling Social Democrats says this is too strong and alarmist.
But a fellow party representative signed off on the report just a few weeks ago.
Opposition parties, however, said the quibbling showed a split within the Social Democrats. And that Sweden’s security situation has worsened.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Surveillance and search and rescue top Canada’s Arctic defence priorities, Radio Canada International
Norway: Norway kicks off military exercise in the North, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russian bombers spotted outside Alaska…again, APRN – Anchorage
Sweden: Swedish minister Margot Wallström takes on the lead in Barents, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: Remembering struggles of Alaska’s once oldest WWII veteran, Alaska Dispatch News
