Sweden, Finland say Russia has 'false' defence information

Sweden and Finland, both non-NATO countries, have called Russia's recent comments on their defence cooperation with the Western alliance "false" amid simmering tensions in the Baltic Sea region.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on July 24 said that NATO received "unhindered access" to Sweden and Finland's airspace and territorial waters in exchange for allowing the two nations to "fully participate" in the alliance's military exercises, according to the TASS state news agency.

"What is described by the Russian defence minister is false. NATO does not have unlimited access to Finnish and Swedish territorial waters and airspace," Sweden's Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish Radio on Friday, echoing similar comments by Finland's defence ministry last week.

"A special permission is required for any state-owned ship and aircraft to enter our territory," Hultqvist added.

Finland last week said Shoigu's comments had "a number of inaccuracies and factual errors", noting that the country "does not participate fully in NATO exercises".

Shoigu was referring to a trilateral statement of intent signed in May by Sweden, Finland and the United States. The document claims to be legally non-binding and aims "to support a stable and secure environment in the Baltic Sea region".

But Shoigu claimed it gives Stockholm and Helsinki "the possibility to use (NATO's) command systems for the control of troops and weapons".

"Such steps by our Western colleagues lead to the destruction of the existing world security system," Shoigu said.

Finland as well as Sweden denied his claims saying they do not have "full access to NATO's command-and-control system".

- Increased military activity -

Sweden and Finland -- the Nordic and Baltic region's only non-aligned countries -- have recently stepped up their military cooperation with the US.

The region has seen an increase in Russian military activity, including several airspace violations and war planes allegedly flying without their identifying transponders.

In recent years, concerns have risen about Russia's intentions in the region -- with alarms bells ringing after Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

In June 2015, US think tank Cepa published a report claiming Russia had held exercises with 33,000 troops aimed at practising an invasion of Sweden's Baltic Sea island of Gotland, among other sites.

Sweden has resumed military activities on Gotland.

It also this year reintroduced compulsory military service, seven years after it was abolished.

The first group of 19 recruits were called in for military training on Monday, Swedish Radio reported, adding that 4,000 soldiers would be trained this year.

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Georgia hosts major joint drills with NATO forces
Vaziani, Georgia (AFP) Aug 1, 2018
Georgia on Wednesday launched large-scale joint military exercises with NATO forces on the tenth anniversary of its war with Russia, which strongly opposes Tbilisi's NATO membership bid. Georgia's Defence Minister Levan Izoria said the two-week drills are "yet another proof of the growing support which Georgia has from its strategic partners, NATO's member states." More than 3,000 troops from 13 countries - including the United States, France, Germany, the UK and Turkey - will take part in t ... read more