Sweden’s decision to join NATO will cause Russia additional anxiety over NATO expansion, which is why Moscow opposes it, Russian Ambassador to Stockholm Viktor Tatarintsev told Aftonbladet on Sunday, February 13.
“This is not a question of bilateral relations only between Russia and Sweden. This is a fundamental and comprehensive question. If the US and NATO had not aggravated the situation, we would not have objected to Sweden’s membership in NATO. We would respect such a decision. But now the security situation in this part of Europe has changed dramatically. NATO expansion is the biggest threat to Russia,” the diplomat explained.
Tatarintsev also noted the unfavorable for the Russian Federation and Sweden, the termination of cooperation in the military sphere. According to him, in order to strengthen security on the continent, countries need bilateral contact. So, for example, it would be possible to avoid a misunderstanding, like what happened in January, when six ships of the Russian Navy entered the Baltic Sea.
“If Sweden had contacts with the Russian military, then Stockholm could call and ask what these ships are doing there. Then he would have known that it was a regular technical inspection, and there would have been no excitement. Then Sweden would not have to transfer military units from Boden to Gotland,” the diplomat said.
The ambassador added that since 2014, Russian-Swedish relations have been “completely frozen” at the initiative of Stockholm, and this greatly complicates diplomatic and military contacts.
The Swedish military reported on January 15 an increase in visible activity on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea due to tensions between NATO and Russia. Lieutenant General Michael Claesson, head of the joint operations department of the armed forces, said that the harbor and airport of Visby, the main city of Gotland, were patrolled by Swedish troops.
On December 7, 2021, Swedish political scientist and professor emeritus at Umeå University Pär Salander reported that the West had fabricated the “Russian threat” to motivate Sweden’s gradual integration with NATO and the United States. According to the scientist, after analyzing the recent statements of Swedish politicians and their real actions in the international arena, only one conclusion can be drawn – about Washington’s “long arm” in Northern Europe.
Source: IZ
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
