Today, NATO's first ministerial meeting begins on Swedish soil. Helsingborg has been cordoned off with massive police operations while top politicians from all over the Western world gather to discuss military rearmament, Ukraine and increased defense spending. Frihetsnytt's reporters are currently on their way to Helsingborg to document the meeting.
On Thursday, foreign ministers and delegates from the 32 NATO member states will arrive in Helsingborg. Among those present are the Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte and the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting is seen as an important preparation for the NATO summit in Ankara later this year where member states are expected to be pushed towards defense spending of 5% of GDP.
Meanwhile, central Helsingborg has been turned into a heavily guarded security area. Streets have been cordoned off, heavily armed police are patrolling the city and officers from all over the country have been called in. Danish police are also taking part in the operation, which is described as one of the largest police operations ever in southern Sweden.
Millions for the NATO meeting
Ahead of the meeting, the City of Helsingborg has spent SEK 2.2 million on upgrading the urban environment, reports SVT. Among other things, over 2,000 flowers and 20 extra flower dishes have been placed in the center before the arrival of the delegates. At the same time, Sofiero Palace is being refurbished for the evening's dinner where the King and Queen, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrij Sybiha participates.
The entire event is expected to cost Swedish taxpayers at least SEK 85 million in total.
Protests and criticism
The meeting has also been met with protests against the fact that Sweden is now hosting a NATO meeting where continued military rearmament and increased support for Ukraine are high on the agenda. Earlier demonstrations in Helsingborg gathered around a thousand people.
The widespread closures have also caused frustration among business owners in the area. The restaurant owner Ahmet Kilinc, whose restaurant is behind security fencing near the meeting area, tells Aftonbladet:
- Make peace please. Enough is enough. We have suffered a lot. The whole world has suffered a lot. Make peace.
Freedom News Tor-Björn Richthoff Änglasjö and Tyr Änglasjö will be on the ground on Thursday and Friday to report on both the meeting and the promised protests. More detailed reports will be published as they happen.
I find it unbelievable that the newspaper that claims to be social democratic still only finds people to interview who are allegedly positive to the presence of the war alliance. Embarrassing!
Yes, the anti-social media never cease to reveal themselves. However, it remains to get a majority of the Swedish people to understand it. If they do not understand it, no change will come.
Absolutely crazy to throw 85 million on this warmongering but it is probably our dwarfs in the government who have got delusions of grandeur now that there seems to be no limit to what the arms purchases and warmongering may cost.