Peter Hultqvist

Turkey on April 20 summoned Sweden's envoy to strongly condemn recent meetings between Swedish high-level officials and terrorists, according to diplomatic sources.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven replaced two ministers on Thursday in a scandal over the leaking of sensitive data, trying to contain the damage and stave off an early election.

DONi News Agency

Non-aligned Sweden seems to be gradually losing its former trademark neutrality, as the red-green coalition government is poised to accept an invitation to join the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which is composed of seven NATO countries.

The Swedish government is expected to adopt a decision on Thursday to resume the military conscription in the country beginning 2018 due to the lack of volunteer recruits, local media reported.

The decision comes amid difficulties with filling the military units on the voluntary basis, the Swedish SR radio reported, citing Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist.

Sweden announced March 2 that it will reintroduce compulsory military service starting this summer to respond to global security challenges including from Russia. 

"The government wants a more stable staff supply system and to boost its military capability because the security situation has changed," Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told TT news agency.

Sweden plans to station troops on the strategic Baltic island of Gotland, as Russia has increased its military activity in the region.

Permanent military presence has been absent from Gotland, which is Sweden's largest island, for a period of ten years, the Financial Times reports.

The Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist announced on Saturday that a Russian military plane, which had turned off its transponder, almost collided with a passenger jet over southern Sweden.

...