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Sweden not to extend plan of defense exchanges with Russia

The Swedish government claims that the Russian military “have been acting in the Baltic region where violations of the regional countries’ sovereignty took place”

STOCKHOLM, October 23. /TASS/. Sweden will not extend a plan on defense exchanges with Russia, the country’s government said on Thursday.

“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 cabinet said that the events would develop in this direction although a direct military incursion into Sweden was unlikely. So proceeding from this, the document underlines a necessity to bolster the country’s defense.

The document says that Sweden’s defense 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 after a referendum in Switzerland had said ‘no’ to the country’s participation in the project.