Kristersson spoke at Folk och försvar • “Will not accept that this continues”
Sweden is not at war – but there is no peace either. This is what Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says during his opening speech at Folk och försvar on Sunday.
– Sweden and our neighbors will not accept that this continues, he says in his speech.
On Sunday, the annual national conference People and Defense started. First to speak was Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
– Sweden is not at war, but there is no peace either, and we are no longer alone, says Kristersson during the speech in Sälen.
– Together with neighbors and our allies, it is our task to secure the Baltic Sea and the sea of peace and freedom, he continues.
The cable breaks in the Baltic Sea
The prime minister also raised the suspected cable sabotage in the Baltic Sea. He stated that Sweden does not draw any hasty conclusions and does not single out any country but for sabotage without very strong reasons.
But at the same time, he emphasized that “quite a bit” speaks for a ship accidentally and without noticing it, dragging an anchor with 300 meters of chain for over a hundred kilometers, without understanding that it can cause damage.
– Sweden and our neighbors will not accept that this continues.
“The Age of Proxy War”
He also spoke about Russia’s hybrid warfare, for example through disinformation, influence campaigns and migrants being sent across the border into Finland and Poland.
– We live in the age of proxy wars, and singled out Iran for the use of gang criminals with violent capital via proxies to commit serious crimes in our country.
During three days, defence, security and civil defense issues will be highlighted. High on the agenda are recent developments with hybrid warfare and the threat from Russia.