logo
Sweden mulls calling up 70-year-old officers for military service

Sweden mulls calling up 70-year-old officers for military service

Express Tribune14-07-2025
Sweden is considering calling up former officers as old as 70 to active duty as it seeks to ensure its military is prepared in times of crisis, the defence minister said on Monday.
The proposal is among several options suggested by an inquiry that the government ordered in 2024, the year the country joined NATO, to look at how Sweden's expanding armed forces would be assured of personnel in a conflict.
Sweden broke two centuries of military non-alignment to join NATO in the aftermath of Russia's 2022 full-scaled invasion of Ukraine, which sparked alarm in Stockholm and Finland that Moscow could eventually threaten them.
Presenting the results of the government probe, Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a press conference on Monday that the Nordic country of 10.5 million people faced "serious times".
"This means that we are now making very significant investments in the military defence," Jonson told reporters. In addition to investing in equipment already underway, Sweden also needed to make sure that enough military personnel would be available in a crisis.
The government probe suggested raising the age that former military officers could be recalled to active duty to 70, from the current 47.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Geo-economics of trade and development
Geo-economics of trade and development

Express Tribune

time5 days ago

  • Express Tribune

Geo-economics of trade and development

Listen to article The contemporary global landscape is characterised by increasingly complex geopolitical and economic dynamics, chaotic power shifts and rapid collapse of the world order. A new era of regional and sub-regional alliances, reset of the existing coalitions, and reevaluation of the bilateral cooperation frameworks is already on the anvil with serious ramifications especially for the countries in the global south. Since World War II, the transatlantic alliance between the United States and the European Union has been a bedrock of global economic stability, multilateralism and institutional development. Together, the US and EU account for nearly 43 per cent of global GDP and 30 per cent of global trade. However, the widening schism manifested in competing strategic priorities, trade approaches and economic differences have begun to undermine the traditional allies, engendering new coalitions and multiple power centres. Key sources of divergence include the USA's increasingly protectionist economic stance under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Europe's more conciliatory approach to China, contentious energy and IT policies, Ukraine war, tensions over defence burden-sharing in NATO and climate change. The result is a fragmentation of global economic governance, blow to multilateralism and volatility of trade and financial markets. At the same time, a massive shift of economic power to Asia has already flounced the world: 21st century is regarded as the Asian century. In 1960s, Asia did not find even one slot among the top 5 economies; whereas now 3 of big 5 global economies are in Asia – China, India and Japan. The world has thus changed fundamentally; multiple power centres are emerging and asserting which include multi-stakeholders not just the governments; the world of finance, civil society and international media. Be that as it may, in geopolitics of today, the US and China occupy the dominant geo-economic position while BRICS and EU with substantial economic potential are actively absorbed in the quest to find their own niche. The rest of the world especially global south, including Pakistan, should fully take cognisance of this historical and momentous intercession; not to be sucked into alignment of servility or conflicts. They need to exhibit strong national will, courage, subtlety and sophistication and learn how to exist and live in peace; be able to stand up to the big powers; and simultaneously, go along with them in pursuit of their national economic objectives. More specifically, the implications for Pakistan are profound. The country's economy is extremely sensitive to external shocks due to high levels of public debt (over 67.5 per cent of GDP as of FY24), dependence on exports to the West and limited foreign reserves ($16.1 billion on 31 January, 2025). The country must adapt its strategy to secure economic stability, diversify trade and attract resilient investment flows. Forging new network of robust, reliable and mutually beneficial trade and cooperation agreements and augmenting the existing bilateral and multilateral arrangements should constitute the core of such a strategy with focus on China and the countries in Central Asia and Middle East and those of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and EU. The economic connectivity via China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) provides the country access to vast markets of over 2 billion consumers in China, EU, Central Asia and Middle East. For instance, with China, the trade volume could be increased from exiting $22.5 billion (2024) to $40 billion by diversification into exports of fruits and vegetables, frozen bovine meat, livestock and other value-added goods; trade volume with the US could be doubled from existing $7.3 billion especially in IT exports and services and value-added exports by negotiating new tariff regime (29 per cent) and a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) or even a Free Trade Agreement (FTA); with EU, Pakistan is already GSP+ beneficiary; and compliance with 27 core international conventions including on human rights, environment, governance dysfunction could tap on the unrealised potential of another $4 billion up from $14.7 billion in 2024. Similarly, Pakistan's exports to SCO countries could reach $15 billion from existing $3.076 by diversifying into synthetic fabrics, minerals, beverages, etc. The ECO Trade Agreement also unfolds multiple opportunities to achieve potential target of $15 billion exports. The IT sector, especially AI market, offers immense prospects for Pakistan to benefit from the AI job market, projected to swell to 170 million by 2030. The country has a large population of more than 250 million, of which approximately 64 per cent is under the age of 30. Pakistan could utilise this youth bulge or demographic boon by developing and supplying skilled-techno-professional human capital to especially the European and Chinese labour markets where population growth rate continues to decline due to the fertility rate (TFR) of 1.4 and 1.36 respectively, much below the replacement level of 2.1. However, in order to ensure enhanced regional trade integration, it is fundamentally imperative for Pakistan to set right the economic management template with priority focus on stable macroeconomic and transparent legal and financial frameworks to guarantee security of investments and harness the potential of country's rich local endowment and production system. This would, a priori, entail commercialisation and value addition of agriculture, bolstering the SMEs sector, yielding maximum benefits of IT sector and building skilled human capital. The country should also improve its global competitiveness ranking and innovation index which at present stand very low – 110 out of 141 countries and 91 among 133 economies respectively – in order to create conducive business environment for foreign investors. Finally, the Ministry of Commerce in conjunction with lead Ministries and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan should revisit the Strategic Trade Framework (2020-2025). A well-orchestrated regional and bilateral trade compact, based on amalgam of geo-strategic, geopolitical and geo-economic advantages, should be prepared to maximise the exports and foreign investment potential and simultaneously enable the country to serve as a sovereign, reliable and dependable bridge between the markets of China, Europe, Asia, ECO, SCO and the Middle East.

The Ukraine question
The Ukraine question

Express Tribune

time19-07-2025

  • Express Tribune

The Ukraine question

Listen to article It seems President Donald Trump's personal vibes with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have hit snags. The equation that he wanted to strike with his country's conventional adversary by making peace is apparently on the rocks. The change of heart is evident as the White House is now once again contemplating to woo Kyiv at the cost of alienating Moscow, and the decision to arm the West's allied-ally engaged in an existential war with Kremlin will go a long way in redefining a new Cold War when multilateralism is on the rise. Thus, NATO's stance to threaten BRICS countries with economic coercion if they did not prevail over Putin to make peace over Ukraine hints at depreciation of American influence, and the beginning of a new era of confrontational politics. The carrot and stick policy that Trump wants to make use of in the form of sanctions and tariffs over its allies, and major trading partners, seems myopic. It is surprising that over the last six months Washington has changed its goal-post several times on the issues of slapping tariffs on China, Canada, India, Brazil and Britain. And now engaging NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte for pushing the envelope in terms of a quid pro quo geopolitical peace over Ukraine is literally confusing. Either Trump has given up on his initiative to befriend Putin, or he has become a victim of politics of convenience at home and is toeing the traditional American policy of confronting Russia, as it suits the mighty military businesses. It is current history that President Zelenskyy was grilled at The Oval and pushed to strike a deal with Putin, and now it's back to square one wherein the yesteryears' Evil Empire is being reincarnated. Trump shall be better advised to put off for a while his impulsive mindset, and engage with the world at large in a manner that befits global leadership. Hoping Russia to come to terms "within 50 days" when it is strategically better placed over Ukraine is wishful thinking, and is taking the US nowhere near a logical solution. Rather this brinkmanship is costing it its leadership.

Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine for war with Russia
Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine for war with Russia

Business Recorder

time19-07-2025

  • Business Recorder

Australia delivers Abrams tanks to Ukraine for war with Russia

SYDNEY: Australia's government said on Saturday it had delivered M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a A$245 million ($160 million) package to help the country defend itself against Russia in their ongoing war. Australia, one of the largest non-NATO contributors to Ukraine, has been supplying aid, ammunition and defence equipment since Moscow invaded its neighbour in February 2022. Ukraine has taken possession of most of the 49 tanks given by Australia, and the rest will be delivered in coming months, said Defence Minister Richard Marles. 'The M1A1 Abrams tanks will make a significant contribution to Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion,' Marles said in a statement. Russia hands Ukraine bodies of 1,000 soldiers The tanks formed part of the A$1.5 billion ($980 million) that Canberra has provided Ukraine in the conflict, the government said. Australia has also banned exports of alumina and aluminium ores, including bauxite, to Russia, and has sanctioned about 1,000 Russian individuals and entities. Australia's centre-left Labor government this year labeled Russia as the aggressor in the conflict and called for the war to be resolved on Kyiv's terms.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store