with NATO membership, pacifist voices struggle to be heard

Disarmament and anti-proliferation organizations have had their public funding withdrawn by the Swedish government.

With Sweden’s accession to NATO and the forced remilitarization of the Nordic country, pacifist and anti-Atlantic Alliance voices are becoming increasingly inaudible in the Nordic country. This is what the main NGOs working for disarmament and non-proliferation denounce, century-old organizations which have had their public subsidies withdrawn by the Swedish government, a right-wing coalition allied with the far right.

According to Malin Nillson, secretary general of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, NGOs have been sanctioned for their anti-NATO position. “When the world starts to spend more on the military, it always ends in wars, we would have preferred to see Sweden become the voice of peacex, she explains. It is clear that the current government does not want to support the opinion debate on international issues, police and security here in Sweden“, continues Malin Nillson.

“There have been no serious discussions regarding NATO about the concessions to be made to be part of this alliance.”

Malin Nillson, general secretary of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

at franceinfo

A major arms producer and tacit ally of the United States, Sweden has always cherished its image as a neutral and pacifist country. For Malin Nilsson, the change in face is accepted today without makeup. “For more than 10 years, we have been surfing on this image, the mask has fallen. Now the government believes that it does not even need to pretend to support antimilitarist NGOs and the debate of ideas. He openly says: ‘What we want is to remilitarize and trade with countries, whether they are democracies or not’. underlines the antimilitarist activist.

“Sweden risks taking a militaristic direction”

Svenska Fred, a century-old organization that campaigns for disarmament, shares the same observation and the same concern. She lost 25% of her budget. “The risk for Swedish society is that democracy becomes poorer, that we no longer hear these voices which document, scrutinize and oppose the arguments put forward by the arms industry, by the supporters of NATO etc… And that Sweden takes a militaristic direction”notes Linda Åkerström, in charge of advocacy at Svenska Fred.

In total, Sweden paid less than 2 million euros per year to 18 peace organizations, a drop in the bucket compared to the more than 10 billion euros it will spend on its defense in 2024.