Sweden: Crown Princess Victoria briefed on foreign and security policy challenges

NordenBladet – With tensions rising in Europe, Crown Princess Victoria has participated in two meetings focusing on foreign and security policy issues.

The first meeting, on February 16th 2022, was attended by Jan Eliasson and Joakim Vaverka from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, and Peter Wallensteen from Uppsala University. The meeting was held digitally and the invited participants were informed about current crises and conflicts around the world, including the regional security situation in the Middle East and the civil war in Tigray. Finally, the participants talked about the United Nation`s stabilization effort in Mali.

Later in the afternoon, the Swedish Crown Princess gave an personal audience to Patrik Oksanen, strategic advisor at the Swedish National Defence College. At the presentation, Patrik Oksanen informed Crown Princess Victoria about the security policy situation in the Baltics and Russia.

In recent weeks, drones have been seen flying above the royal palace as well as key buildings including nuclear plants. Sweden has mobilized large forces on the strategically important island of Gotland after Russian landing craft were deployed in the Baltic. Swedish Police said on 31 January that they had arrested a Russian citizen who flew a drone above Drottningholm Palace on 30 January. The man is suspected of violating the Swedish “Protection Act.” The Swedish Royal Court, Sweden’s Security Police and the Swedish Armed Forces was quickly informed.

Earlier in January, drones were spotted flying over both the Royal Palace in Stockholm and Drottningholm Palace. However, it is not known if King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia were in either palace when the drones were seen. Due to an increased level of uncertainty regarding Russia, Sweden has decided to upgrade its military, and Crown Princess Victoria visited the Gothenburg garrison in September 2021 to attend the re-establishment of Älvsborg’s amphibious regiment.