Sweden's submarine search heats up tension in Baltic region — Russian Defense Ministry
WorldThe expansion of the zone of the search for “foreign submarine activity” by Sweden is heating up tension in the Baltic region, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry Major General Igor Konashenkov told reporters on Friday.
“Such unjustified actions of the Swedish Defense Ministry, backed by cold war rhetoric today only exacerbate tension in the region. They may result not in the strengthening of a separate country’s security, but in undermining of the foundations of marine economic activity in the Baltic Sea region,” the official said.
Sweden's national Armed Forces say an unknown submarine is staying near Sweden’s coast. The search operation started October 17.
On Thursday, it was reported that the search operation continues. No details of the operation have been revealed.
The Swedish government so far has not named the country that could have violated the country’s borders.
Swedish media suggest the military are searching for a Russian submarine. Russian officials, however, have dismissed the rumors, saying there's no Russian submarine in Sweden.
A source in the Russian Defense Ministry suggested that the Swedish side should look for a Dutch submarine rather that a Russian one.
Sweden stops military cooperation with Russia
Sweden's government on Thursday announced the country will not extend a plan on defense exchanges with Russia.
“The government has decided not to extend a joint plan of action with Russia that regulates partnership of the two countries’ armed forces. It means that cooperation of the Swedish and Russian armed forces is suspended,” reads the budget bill published on Thursday.
The Swedish government claims that the Russian military “have been acting in the Baltic region where violations of the regional countries’ sovereignty took place.”
The document says that Sweden’s defense spending will be increased by 680 million kronas (75 million euro). The government is to allocate another 900 million kronas for a new model of the multi-role fighter Jas-39 Gripen