Sweden to increase military spending by 40% as tension with Russia grows

Sweden to increase military spending by 40% as tension with Russia grows at UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Sweden suspends asylum application for asylum seekers while Sweden prepares to transfer asylum seekers

More about asylum seekers:

Sweden to increase military spending by 40% as tension with Russia grows at UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Sweden suspends asylum application for asylum seekers while Sweden prepares to transfer asylum seekers

Sweden announced it would increase its refugee presence in Europe, but the move comes amid fears the planned asylum seeker population could spread. Sweden had planned an additional 800,000 asylum seekers as of late this year from Turkey, but the migration ban has been lifted as of this summer, with the numbers expected to keep rising until mid-2019.

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, of Sweden, called refugee arrivals "terrible" in an interview with the Swedish newspaper "DN" on Saturday, and said that refugees would be "really unwelcome and you will not be able to have your children." Sweden's president Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Sweden would reduce the number of asylum seekers it permits to arrive to 30,000 by 2020.

Lokke Rasmussen and his government have taken a hard line against immigrants who come seeking work, but have insisted they have no business fleeing conflicts and poverty for such a harsh environment. He and his government have also been vocal within Sweden's borders against refugees, saying any attempts to block them should be dealt with promptly.

There is a chance that Sweden may have to limit the number of asylum-seekers it lets on its shores, though the government is in no rush to do so.

Sweden did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Prime Minister's spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sweden's new President Olaf Dastjerk said that while he had received strong support from people among the refugees, it was important for Sweden to ensure the rights of asylum-seekers to stay in countries like Russia.

"Today's announcement is one example of our approach to asylum-seekers that is based entirely on the principle of compassion and tolerance," he said. "Any further action is simply an admission that it's wrong to put a disproportionate burden on refugees. We are always looking at refugees as human beings on their own. And as these situations are becoming more dangerous, we also need to address the refugee issue quickly."

A Swedish UN official, with knowledge of the situation, declined to comment on the action but noted that the situation today was "fragile" and was not a sign of increased concern.

For full coverage of news events in Sweden about refugees and migrants see our Homepage