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MILITARY

Swedish man charged over military base secrets

Swedish authorities have charged a 66-year-old man with illegally building up confidential information on military bases.

Published: 29 February 2024 06:27 CET
Swedish man charged over military base secrets
File photo of a Swedish courtroom. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said “several people” were involved in the collection of the information and a “high level of expertise” was required.

Ljungqvist told AFP the suspect, Hans Georg Svanström, had “carried out military missions for the Swedish armed forces”.

The indictment was revealed as Sweden moves closer to completing an application to join the Nato alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The indictment said that between December 2015 and November 2017, Svanström drew up detailed maps of sensitive military sites across the country.

“It involves a large number of installations important for the capacity of Sweden to defend itself in case of war,” the prosecutor said in a statement. “The release of this information could threaten national security.”

The classified information was found at Svanström’s home at Vaxholm, near Stockholm.

About 40 pieces of evidence, including USB keys, cameras and files were seized and will be produced at the trial, the indictment said.

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SWEDEN AND GERMANY

What’s on the agenda for German chancellor’s visit to Sweden?

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in Sweden to discuss security and business competitiveness with his Nordic colleagues on a two-day visit.

Published: 13 May 2024 14:25 CEST
What's on the agenda for German chancellor's visit to Sweden?

Scholz was to visit the Stockholm headquarters of telecommunications giant Ericsson on Monday, accompanied by the prime ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

They were to “discuss security policy issues such as hybrid threats, civil preparedness and new technologies,” the Swedish government said in a statement.

A press conference was to follow just before 6pm.

“At a dinner that evening, discussions will centre on continued support to Ukraine,” the government said, as Russian troops launched a major ground operation against Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region amid Kyiv’s struggles with Western aid delays.

The Nordic countries and Germany have been among Ukraine’s biggest donors since Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

Berlin is the world’s second biggest donor to Ukraine, giving 14.5 billion euros so far, according to the Kiel Institute.

“Security policy and the upcoming Nato summit will top the agenda,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson wrote in a piece published in financial daily Dagens Industri on Monday.

“Financial competitiveness issues” will also be discussed, he said, noting that “the Nordic region wants to play a key role in efforts to strengthen the European economy”.

On Tuesday, Kristersson and Scholz were scheduled to hold bilateral talks and visit the Norrsken Foundation, which supports young growth companies active in the green and digital transition.

Afterwards the two leaders were to sign a “strategic innovation partnership” between Germany and Sweden.

The visit was to be their first bilateral meeting since Sweden joined Nato in March 2024.

The next Nato summit will take place July 9th-11th in Washington.

“Sweden has, and must have, a clear international voice in the world,” Kristersson wrote in Dagens Industri.

The Scandinavian country has enjoyed decades of strong cooperation with Nordic and Baltic countries, and with intensified collaboration “with two other Baltic Sea countries, Poland and Germany, our region will be safer and stronger”, he said.

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