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Iran summons Sweden’s envoy over accusations

Swedish Security Chief Accuses Iran of Using Criminal Networks to Target Jews and Israelis…reports Asian Lite News

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned Sweden’s acting charge d’affaires over his country’s “baseless and biased” accusations against Tehran.

During the meeting with the Swedish envoy on Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry conveyed Tehran’s protest against the controversial remarks made by a Swedish official in Stockholm, adding that the remarks had been made “based on disinformation and under Israel’s influence.” 

Daniel Stenling, head of counterintelligence at the Swedish Security Service, accused on Thursday the Iranian government of “using criminal networks within Sweden” to target Israeli or Jewish interests in the Scandinavian country.

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has condemned new sanctions imposed by the EU on several Iranian officials and entities.

He made the remarks in a statement by his Ministry after the EU on Friday imposed sanctions on six individuals and three entities of Iran for their alleged “role in the transfer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine or the transfer of UAVs or missiles to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region,” or “for being involved in Iran’s UAV program”.

Kanaani said the EU, instead of focusing on the Israeli “war crimes” in Gaza and punishing Israel for them, had included in its list of sanctions some Iranian officials and entities that had been “pioneers and effective in the fight against terrorism and ensuring sustainable security in the West Asia region”.

He regretted that the EU had once again resorted to the “outdated and ineffective” tool of sanctions against Iran while turning a blind eye to the field realities in West Asia.

Kanaani emphasised that Iran would continue its principled policies, especially in ensuring regional and international peace and security, and reserve the right to respond to such a “destructive” approach by the EU.

In a press statement on its website, the Council of the EU announced on Friday new sanctions on Iranian armed forces’ Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters and one of its commanders, Kavan Electronics Behrad LLC, an Iran-based company which the bloc accused of being involved in procuring and selling components for the manufacturing of UAVs, its CEO and chairman of the board of directors, and the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The bloc has also imposed sanctions on Iran’s Defence Minister Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani, an IRGC commander, and Afshin Khaji Fard, head of Iran’s Aviation Industries Organisation.

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Sweden set to become NATO’s 32nd member

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson speaks at a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on Feb. 2, 2023. (Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

The Biden administration in January approved $23 billion in F-16 warplanes to Turkiye swiftly after it ratified Sweden’s membership…reports Asian Lite News

Sweden on Thursday became the 32nd member of NATO in the shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, turning the page on two centuries of non-alignment and capping two years of torturous diplomacy.

Days after Hungary followed key holdout Turkiye and became the last NATO member to sign off, Sweden ceremonially handed over accession documents to the United States, the leading force of the transatlantic alliance that promises joint security for all.

“It is a major step but, at the same time, a very natural step,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said at the State Department.

“It’s a victory for freedom today. Sweden has made a free, democratic, sovereign and united choice to join NATO,” he said.

He later delivered a televised address to the nation from Washington, telling Swedes: “We are a small country, but we understand more than most the importance of the greater world beyond our borders.”

President Joe Biden, whose rival Donald Trump has disparaged NATO as unfairly burdening the United States, said in a statement that the alliance was stronger and “more united, determined and dynamic than ever” with Sweden.

The Swedish prime minister was set later Thursday to attend the annual State of the Union address by Biden, who has been struggling to persuade Trump’s Republican Party to approve new aid to Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said few would have expected Sweden as well as Finland to join NATO before Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

There is “no clearer example than today of the strategic debacle that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has become for Russia,” Blinken said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also hailed Sweden’s membership, saying: “One more country in Europe has become more protected from Russian evil.”

Sweden has not fought in a war since the Napoleonic conflicts of the early 19th century.

Sweden and Finland, while militarily intertwined with the United States and both members of the European Union, had historically steered clear of joining NATO, formed in the Cold War to unite against the Soviet Union.

Finland and Sweden launched a joint bid quickly after the invasion of Ukraine, which itself had unsuccessfully sought to join NATO — an alliance that under Article 5, considers an attack on one member an attack on all.

Finland successfully joined in April 2023, but Sweden’s membership was stalled by Turkiye.

“Good things come to those who wait,” Blinken said as he received the documents from Sweden. “Some doubted we’d get here; we never did.”

Russia has vowed “countermeasures” over Sweden’s entry into NATO, especially if the alliance’s troops and assets deploy in the country.

Sweden’s blue and yellow flag is expected to be hoisted on Monday at the Brussels headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance.

Other NATO allies hailed Sweden’s entry, with the German foreign ministry saying, “It’s good to know you are firmly by our side.”

Before agreeing to ratify membership, Turkiye used its leverage to press Sweden, known for its liberal asylum policies, to crack down on Kurdish militants who have campaigned against Ankara.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later demanded action after protesters, enjoying Swedish laws on free speech, desecrated Islam’s holy book the Qur’an.

In a clear if unstated sweetener, the United States dangled F-16 warplanes to Turkiye, which has faced the wrath of US sanctions over a major military purchase from Russia.

The Biden administration in January approved $23 billion in F-16 warplanes to Turkiye swiftly after it ratified Sweden’s membership.

The United States simultaneously pushed ahead with $8.6 billion in more advanced F-35 jets for Greece, a fellow NATO member and historic adversary of Turkiye.

Even with Turkiye’s blessing, Sweden faced another obstacle as it needed approval of a last country — Hungary, whose nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orban, has often thumbed his nose at Western allies.

The Hungarian parliament ratified Sweden’s membership on February 26. But in one last hiccup, Hungary could not sign the accession document due to a brief absence in the mostly ceremonial post of president, after an Orban ally resigned over pardoning a convicted child abuser’s accomplice.

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Turkish parliament ratifies Sweden’s bid to join NATO

Staff members work at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS)

Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban said he had invited his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, to visit Hungary to negotiate the terms of Sweden’s accession…reports Asian Lite News

The Turkish Parliament on Tuesday voted to approve Sweden’s NATO membership bid, bringing the Nordic country one step closer to joining the military alliance after months of delays, CNN reported.

Out of the 346 MPs who voted, 287 were in favour of Sweden’s accession and 55 voted to reject it. Four others abstained from voting.

The vote was the second step of Turkey’s ratification process after the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Commission approved the bid last month.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can now sign the protocol into law.

Even after a significant hurdle has been cleared for the Nordic country’s accession into the military alliance, Hungary remains the only member state that has not yet ratified Sweden’s accession, CNN reported.

However, on Tuesday, Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban said he had invited his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, to visit Hungary to negotiate the terms of Sweden’s accession.

Notably, Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership in May 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier that year. Finland joined NATO in April 2023, doubling the alliance’s border with Russia, but Sweden has faced numerous delays in its path to accession.

Erdogan initially objected to Sweden’s membership bid, accusing Swedish officials of being “too lenient” on militant groups, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Since applying, Sweden has tightened its anti-terror legislation and agreed to work more closely with Turkey on security concerns, as reported by CNN.

Meanwhile, Erdogan’s approval of Sweden’s accession bid also rides on a commitment by the United States, with the Turkish president signalling that he won’t sign the protocol into law unless the US approves the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Ben Cardin said on Tuesday that Congress, however, is waiting to see the accession documents completed before moving forward on the matter. (ANI)

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‘Sweden fulfilled significant part of responsibilities for NATO bid’

Staff members work at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS)

Sweden should act carefully and meticulously against Islamophobia in Europe, he noted, adding that his country is not against NATO’s expansion…reports Asian Lite News

Sweden has fulfilled an important part of demands by Turkey for the Nordic country’s NATO bid, Turkish parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus said.

“We see that Sweden also fulfills a significant part of its responsibilities,” Xinhua news agency quoted Kurtulmus as saying to reporters.

“If we are to act jointly within an alliance, Turkey has extremely legitimate expectations,” he said, noting that Ankara expected relevant countries to end “any kind of support” to terrorist groups and ban what it called anti-Turkish activities on their lands.

Sweden should act carefully and meticulously against Islamophobia in Europe, he noted, adding that his country is not against NATO’s expansion.

The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee approved Sweden’s NATO bid following deliberation in December last year, a first step necessary for putting it to a full parliament vote.

Kurtulmus said that it was now up to the general assembly of Parliament to decide the timing of the vote after it returns from recess on January 16.

A full parliamentary approval is needed before the protocol can be signed into law by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey approved Finland’s NATO bid in March last year but has slow-walked Sweden’s accession, demanding the Nordic country further address Ankara’s security concerns.

Turkey is under pressure from the US to approve Sweden’s accession to NATO, but Ankara has been holding up its ratification to press Washington to allow the sale of F-16 fighter jets.

ALSO READ-Turkey’s parliamentary panel gives nod to Sweden’s NATO bid

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Turkey’s parliamentary panel gives nod to Sweden’s NATO bid

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom stated in a statement following the commission’s approval that Sweden welcomed the decision and looked forward to joining NATO…reports Asian Lite News

Sweden’s NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) membership application has been approved by the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission, Al Jazeera reported.

The decision, made on Tuesday, is a critical step towards expanding the military alliance after 19 months of delays caused by Ankara’s demand for security concessions from Stockholm.

The panel, which is controlled by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), agreed to support Sweden’s petition last year, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The next step is a vote by the entire parliament, which the AK Party and its allies control. Sweden’s NATO membership is expected to pass, and the bill would then be sent to Erdogan, according to Al Jazeera.

If he signs it into law, he will bring an end to an almost two-year process that has irritated some of Ankara’s Western partners.

However, Commission Chairman Fuat Oktay downplayed hopes for a quick vote in the entire Grand National Assembly, telling reporters that the speaker will decide on the time of the vote. Parliament will also take a two-week break in early January, according to Al Jazeera.

“The decision to submit it to the general assembly has been made now, but this should not be interpreted as [a sign] that it will pass the general assembly with the same speed. There is no such thing,” said Oktay.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom stated in a statement following the commission’s approval that Sweden welcomed the decision and looked forward to joining NATO.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg praised the Turkish parliamentary commission’s decision as well.

Turkey confirmed Finland’s petition in April but held Sweden, hostage, until it takes additional steps to crack down on local members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey, the European Union, and the United States have designated as a terrorist organisation, reported Al Jazeera.

Sweden, as well as NATO allies Finland, Canada, and the Netherlands, took steps to ease Turkey’s arms export rules.

While NATO member Hungary has not confirmed Sweden’s membership, Turkey is viewed as the primary impediment to Sweden joining the military alliance and strengthening its fortifications in the Baltic Sea region. (ANI)

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‘India, Sweden want to do things smarter, sustainable’

Highlighting the ties between the two nations, he said that five Indian Presidents have visited Sweden and four Swedish Prime Ministers have travelled to India…reports Asian Lite News

Sweden’s Ambassador to India, Jan Thesleff, said that India and Sweden want to work together to do things that are “smarter and more sustainable.” He noted that the bond between India and Sweden dates back to independence.

In his address at the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Sweden and India, Thesleff recalled the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai.

Jan Thesleff said, “Exactly one week ago, on Friday, our two Prime Ministers, Honourable Prime Minister Modi and the Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson, met in Dubai and they met to launch the leadership groups for industry transition at COP28.”

“And the new great initiative by India on green credits. So this is the freshest example of our sambandh (bond), actually. Together, India and Sweden want to do things smarter and more sustainable. We co-create and our motto has been for this year, Swedish innovation made in India.”

Highlighting the ties between the two nations, he said that five Indian Presidents have visited Sweden and four Swedish Prime Ministers have travelled to India.

Thesleff noted,”There’s been a sambandh between Sweden and India that goes back to independence. We’ve had five visits by Indian Presidents, Prime ministers to Sweden. We have four Swedish Prime Ministers coming to this beautiful, lovely, fantastic country. Our Kings and Queens have come three times to India. And only this year, 20 per cent of the Swedish government made their way to India in one year.”

He recalled that Rabindranath Tagore 110 years ago wrote the lyrics for the national anthem and won the Nobel Peace Prize in literature. Jan Thesleff noted that since then, nine prominent laureates of Indian descent have won that same prize.

Congratulating India on the Chandrayaan-3 landing, he said, “I want to congratulate India on the amazing Chandrayaan-3 moon landing. I think that achievement shows that through innovation and innovation is at the core of what we do, we can pioneer the possible.”

Jan Thesleff hosted a gala reception at his residence on Friday to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Sweden. The ties between India and Sweden were established in 1948 and have steadily strengthened over the decades, according to the Indian Embassy in Sweden.

On December 1, Sweden Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said that the Green Credits initiative is a promising additional tool to enhance climate action at a time when there is urgency and opportunities for climate transition in our societies.

In his address at the high-level event on the Green Credits Programme at the COP28 World Climate Action Summit, the Swedish Prime Minister also thanked India for the invitation to this event on enhancing climate action.

“We would like to thank our hosts and dear colleagues in India for the invitation to this event on enhancing climate action. Indeed, there are a large number of organisations, corporate entities and individuals who want to contribute to securing our future environment,” he said.

“In light of the urgency and opportunities of climate transition in our societies, we see the Green Credits initiative as a promising additional tool to enhance climate action,” Kristersson added. (ANI)

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Swedish Embassy Hosts Fashion Show To Celebrate Ties With India

Sweden,flag.

The show hosted on November 17, 2023, focussed on sustainability and circular economy – a tribute to India and Sweden’s mutual interest in sustainable fashion…reports Asian Lite News

The Swedish Embassy in Delhi hosted a sustainable fashion show – ‘Fashion Forever’ – towards a stylish and sustainable future to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with India.

The show brought together outfits made from India’s eco-friendly & hand-spun khadi fabric, as well as Swedish sustainable textiles and smart materials.

A strong set of innovative textile pieces were showcased: clothes that are made from forest slag products and recycled shirts, clothes that dissolve in high-temperature water; and even clothes that communicate with the wearer through an integrated camera – especially targeting fashionistas that are hearing and visually impaired.

The show hosted on November 17, 2023, focussed on sustainability and circular economy – a tribute to India and Sweden’s mutual interest in sustainable fashion.

Speaking on the occasion, Jan Thesleff, Sweden’s Ambassador to India said: “The Swedish fashion scene has experienced a remarkable transition thanks to the combined efforts of designers, industry and academics who are dedicated to developing a circular fashion sector. The event “Fashion Forever” demonstrates Sweden’s commitment to sustainable development by showcasing the cutting edge of eco-friendly materials and clothing.”

The show was curated and mentored by Sunil Sethi, Chairman, Fashion Design Council of India, with collections from the Centre of Excellence for Khadi, and a strong set of Swedish fashion brands: H&M, Lindex as well as the Swedish School of Textiles. A special collection named ‘Kajsa’ was designed and created by the Centre of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK) with so mark the diamond jubilee of Sweden-India relations. CoEK is set up by KVIC- Ministry of MSME in association with NIFT.

Yanira Ramirez, Country Sales Manager, H&M India said: “Our collection ‘Innovation Stories’ represents a new era of style deeply rooted in sustainability. We strive to reshape the way we create and consume fashion, and this partnership reflects not only a celebration of our shared history but a bold step towards a more sustainable and stylish tomorrow.”

Anna-Karin Dahlberg, Director of Sustainability at Lindex, said: “As a major player in the fashion industry we not only have a lot of responsibility but also have great opportunities to make a difference and contribute to the transformation of the fashion industry. We are happy to see the steps that some of our partners in India are taking within social and environmental sustainability”.

The event also featured a special collection by the Swedish School of Textiles focusing on bio-based material and smart wearable textiles assisting blind and deaf people.

“The garments have been remade from old clothes such as used workwear. We will also show garments made from new, sustainable materials such as paper yarn. In addition, we want to show the groundbreaking possibilities of smart textiles as textiles and clothing are also important in medical technology,” said Susanne Nejderas, Textile Strategist at Science Park Boras and the Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Boras. (ANI)

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Sweden’s Ambitious Plan for “Massive” Expansion of Nuclear Power

Ringhals 4 nuclear reactor in Sweden.(photo: powerplants.vattenfall.com/ringhals)

An economic model for risk-sharing between the state and the investors in new nuclear infrastructure will also be developed…reports Asian Lite News

Sweden is planning a “massive” expansion of new nuclear power, the government said, adding that by 2045, it wants the country to have the equivalent of 10 new reactors, two of which will already be operational by 2035.

This will mean “a historic restructuring of Sweden’s energy policy”, Energy Minister Ebba Busch said at a press conference outlining the policy shift from 100 per cent renewable to 100 per cent fossil-free electricity generation.

“We have to double electricity production within 25 years,” Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

To achieve this goal, the limitation on the number of nuclear reactors is lifted and the permitting processes for new reactors will be streamlined and speeded up, she said.

The government has also decided to introduce credit guarantees for investments in new nuclear power, Busch said.

An economic model for risk-sharing between the state and the investors in new nuclear infrastructure will also be developed.

Busch said the expansion was urgent to meet the increasing demand for electricity as the green industries develop and also because “the electricity system has never been as fragile as it is now”.

She recalled that the grid nearly collapsed due to imbalances last winter.

Last year, 170 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity were produced in the country, of which 69 per cent came from renewables, according to Statistics Sweden.

Hydroelectric power accounted for 41 per cent of the total output, while nuclear and wind accounted for 29 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively.

According to the Swedish Energy Agency, the country’s electricity consumption may double to 280 TWh per year by 2035 and increase further to 370 TWh by 2045.

ALSO READ-Quran Burning In Sweden Sparks Saudi Outrage

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Quran Burning In Sweden Sparks Saudi Outrage

The ministry called on the Swedish authorities to deal with Quran desecrations in a timely manner…reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the burning of a copy of the Islamic holy book of the Quran in the Swedish city of Malmo, a move which the kingdom says was carried out with “the knowledge of the local authorities”.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry on Sunday “reiterated the kingdom’s rejection of such flagrant acts,” and said such a move had inflamed the feelings of millions of Muslims worldwide, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Saudi Press Agency.

The ministry called on the Swedish authorities to deal with Quran desecrations in a timely manner and stop giving permission to those who plan to take similar actions.

Salwan Momika, an individual of Iraqi origin, tore pages of the Quran and burnt it in Malmo on Saturday. The Swedish police detained some individuals and turned away some others who tried to stop the move, Swedish media reported.

Over the past months, copies of the Quran have been repeatedly desecrated by anti-Islam individuals or groups in countries including Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, sparking outrage and criticism in Muslim-majority countries worldwide. 

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‘Armed forces, police to jointly combat gang violence in Sweden’

Kristersson said that the decision to allow the police forces to request assistance from the Armed Forces is merely a first step, and the police will be given further powers…reports Asian Lite News

The Swedish Armed Forces have been called in to help the police combat a recent surge in organized crime, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters here.

The armed forces are well-equipped to handle explosives and IT forensics, and to organise helicopter transports and they also have extensive analytical skills which makes them competent to assess risk scenarios, Kristersson said.

The National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA), a civil authority subordinated to the Ministry of Defence, will also be tasked with assisting the police with signals intelligence, Xinhua news agency quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

“We have increased their funding to enable them to intensify their signals intelligence operations with regards to cross-border serious crime,” Kristersson said.

Legislation that allows preventative wiretapping to stop shootings, bombings and other crimes related to organized crime before they are committed will come into effect on Sunday, following a decision made earlier this year.

Kristersson also said that the decision to allow the police forces to request assistance from the Armed Forces is merely a first step, and the police will be given further powers.

In a 2020 study that analyzed criminal activities in 23 European countries, the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention found that between 2000 and 2019, Sweden had moved from having the lowest number of shootings to having the highest number of incidents.

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