The Local Sweden

Swedish military suffers 'alarming' drop-out rate

Mon, 10 Feb 2014 09:14:00 +0100

Seven of ten soldiers in Sweden's all-volunteer military drop out before their contracts expire, a retention rate below the worst predictions calculated when Sweden scrapped mandatory conscription.

Former minister gets double-wage package

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 09:24:00 +0100

Moderate Party MP and former minister for defence, Sten Tolgfors, has been paid 115,000 kronor ($17,140) per month since the spring, despite not taking active part in any parliamentary activity, according to a report in daily Dagens Nyheter (DN).

Government 'hid' sensitive Saudi email

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 09:59:00 +0100

An email with sensitive information about plans by a Swedish military agency to help build an arms plant in Saudi Arabia was removed from the government office's registry, according to a report in the Swedish media.

Swedes paid off Russian expert in secret intel deal

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:29:00 +0200

Two Swedish military agencies at the centre of a scandal over plans to help build a weapons factory in Saudi Arabia also secretly paid millions of kronor to a Russian arms expert for information relevant to the project, a new report has revealed.

Hefty PR advice bill after Saudi arms scandal

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 14:20:00 +0200

When news of the Saudi arms factory broke in March, the Swedish Defence Research Agency hired crisis management consultants for over 300,000 kronor ($43,000).

Sweden unveils new defence minister

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:44:00 +0200

Karin Enström of the Moderate party will be Sweden’s new minister for defence, announced prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on Wednesday.

'Sweden has betrayed the Arab struggle for democracy'

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:09:00 +0200

Revelations that Sweden has helped the regime in Saudi Arabia enhance its military capabilities amount to a betrayal of the Arab spring and support for a Saudi-backed Arab counter-revolution, argue a group of Arab and Swedish pro-democracy activists.

Saudi Arabia a 'family business': Bildt

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:29:00 +0200

Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt has said that, although he has not been consulted on the weapons deals with Saudi Arabia, he sees no problems with exporting arms to the country, according to a report in business paper Dagens Industri (DI).

Scandal made Tolgfors's position 'untenable'

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:37:00 +0200

While it's too early to say exactly why Swedish defence minister Sten Tolgfors resigned on Thursday, experts say there is little doubt his departure amid mounting revelations about Sweden's secret arms' deal with Saudi Arabia has delivered a serious blow to the government.

Spy agency cash used for Saudi arms plant: report

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:31:00 +0200

The shell company set up to carry out Sweden's secret plans to build a weapons factory in Saudi Arabia was financed with cash borrowed from the country's military intelligence agency, according to a new report.

Criminal probe into 'secret' Saudi arms plant

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:30:00 +0100

Swedish prosecutors have launched a preliminary criminal investigation into suspicions that a Swedish military agency may have broken the law in connection with plans to help build a weapons plant in Saudi Arabia.

'Neutrality to blame in Saudi arms scandal'

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:54:00 +0100

Sweden's neutrality policy and its inability choose between decency and Soviet oppression lies at the heart of the current Saudi arms deal scandal, argues libertarian Swedish commentator and author Fredrik Segerfeldt.

Swedish military 'sold' arms to Saudi Arabia

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:55:00 +0100

Much of the Swedish weaponry sold to Saudi Arabia in recent years actually came from the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten), according to a new report.

Minister knew of Saudi arms factory: report

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:43:00 +0100

Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors admitted on Friday that he was informed two years ago about plans to build an arms factory in Saudi Arabia, despite denying these claims throughout the week.

Outrage over Sweden's 'secret' Saudi arms plant

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:33:00 +0100

Tuesday’s revelation that the Swedish government has been involved in a project to aid the building of an arms factory in a dictatorship like Saudi Arabia through the Swedish Defence Research Agency (Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut, FOI) has caused strong reactions both in Sweden and abroad.

Sweden to help build Saudi arms plant: report

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:58:00 +0100

The Swedish Defence Research Agency (Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut, FOI) has been involved in a project to help build an advanced arms factory in Saudi Arabia, according to secret documents that have recently been made public.

Bildt: sub findings inconclusive

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:17:00 +0200

Foreign minister Carl Bildt remains convinced that Soviet submarines entered Swedish waters in 1982 despite Monday's revelations that sounds recorded in the Stockholm archipelago may actually have emanated from a Swedish charter boat.

Soviet 'sub' was Swedish charter boat

Mon, 19 May 2008 18:14:00 +0200

The sound recorded in 1982 in the waters of Hårsfjärden in the Stockholm archipelago has turned out not to be from a threatening Soviet submarine but rather from Amalia, a charter boat which happened to be nearby at the time of the operation.