Nuclear weapons

Ulf Kristersson skeptical of the UN nuclear weapons convention

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John Granlund 

 

Published: Today 07.46 

 

Updated: Less than 3 hours ago 

 

NEWS 

 

Sweden is an observer for the UN's nuclear weapons ban - which NATO sees as negative. 

 

Even Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is skeptical of the UN convention and says that he has not taken a position on whether Sweden should remain as an observer. 

 

- It should not be only dictatorships and dangerous states that have the most dangerous weapons at their disposal, he tells Aftonbladet when he explains NATO's approach. 

 

Sweden has not signed the UN Convention on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, but is an observer for the convention since 2021. 

 

The observership means that Sweden participates in UN meetings about the convention and is also seen as a signal to the outside world that it is viewed positively. 

 

However, the UN's nuclear weapons ban is controversial because Sweden's security policy rests on protection from partner countries that themselves have nuclear weapons, such as Great Britain, France and the United States. 

 

NATO is negative about Sweden being an observer for the UN nuclear weapons ban (TPNW). Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT 

 

NATO negative 

 

In the run-up to Sweden's accession to NATO, the issue has been brought up again - and then it has been about the fact that within NATO there is a negative attitude towards Sweden being an observer of the UN convention. 

 

- It is no secret that NATO thinks that NATO's entire combined capacity is important. One usually talks about a 360-degree perspective in those matters, and that also includes NATO's nuclear umbrella, that is, the capability that should never have to be used. That is, it should not only be dictatorships and dangerous states that have the most dangerous weapons at their disposal, so it is clear that NATO does not think it is good for NATO's cooperation, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) to Aftonbladet.

 

 

"My focus right now is on getting us into NATO," says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Photo: Christine Olsson/TT 

 

Skeptical of convention 

 

He emphasizes that it is up to each country to decide which UN conventions they commit to, but states that he himself is not a supporter of the work on the UN nuclear ban that the previous government joined. 

 

- My focus right now is that we should enter NATO and that we should fulfill our commitments, both according to this agreement we have with Finland and Turkey but also that we should become a full member of NATO, says Ulf Kristersson. 

Can Sweden continue to be an observer of this UN work? 

 

- Yes, Sweden can of course formally be. We have never considered that work to be urgent. I have not taken a new position on this in any way, but it is clear that right now our focus is on making sure that Sweden lives up to our commitments according to the agreement and that we can pursue a good policy in NATO as well. 

 

 

On Wednesday, Russia began a large nuclear weapons exercise 10 miles from the Norwegian border. Photo: AP 

 

Facts 

 

FACTS: UN Convention on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 

 

The UN convention Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW) has been ratified by 50 countries but not by Sweden. 

 

The agreement prohibits, among other things, the use, manufacture, testing, deployment and threat to use nuclear weapons. The United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, France and other nuclear weapons nations have not signed the treaty. 

 

Sweden, like the other Nordic countries, has chosen not to sign the convention and has instead opted to participate as an observer. In an impact investigation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2019, it is stated, among other things, that the agreement may conflict with the UN Treaty on the Prevention of the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which Sweden joined in 1970. The agreement is also considered to be capable of damaging the international defense cooperation Sweden has today. 

Source: TT