Ulf Kristersson Mindaugas Kulbis / AP
Kristersson: Criticism of Turkey does not prevent cooperation in NATO
The new NATO agreement has raised questions about how Sweden should relate to Turkey in the future. Ankara has long been criticized for restrictions on freedom of expression, human rights and democracy, among others by Sweden.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) does not see that the differences of opinion will be a problem. He would rather focus on what the countries have in common, such as the fight against cross-border terrorism.
When Kristersson is asked in SVT's Aktuellt whether Sweden's government will be able to continue criticizing Turkey after the new agreement, he answers:
- That Sweden and Turkey think differently on a number of issues is certainly not news.
- I cannot see how it should prevent us from cooperating within the framework of NATO when we think we need to have a common defense.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M). Fredrik Sandberg/TT
Jonson: No expectations of nuclear weapons in Sweden Sweden's
Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M) refutes the fear that tactical nuclear weapons can be placed in Sweden when the country becomes a member of NATO.
In an interview with SVT's Aktuellt, he states that "there are no such expectations" of Sweden from the defense alliance's side.
- But on the other hand, we will of course have to stand up because NATO is a military alliance that is based on both conventional deterrence and nuclear deterrence.
It is not clear which Swedes may be eligible to be sent into combat, he says further on the question of whether conscripts can be sent into combat.
- The way the legislation is formulated now, conscripts must be used for the defense of Sweden. But it is clear that one can discuss where it begins and ends when we are part of a defense alliance.
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