[Spain]: Message to Sweden

[Zak]

OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN​

ENCRYPTED AND CLASSIFIED​

Recipient: Lucia Björklund, Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs CC: Emilie Dahl, Secretary General of the Nordic Council I have awoken to the alarming news of the new government in New Zealand announcing their claim over apart of the Antarctic territory which the Swedish Government currently has a claim on. Our government fully recognises the claim that Sweden has on parts of Antarctica and we stand ready to support Sweden. This also leads onto my next point, the Kingdom of Spain would like to see the accession of Spain to the Nordic Council as a supporting member state as we share the same values as yourselves. I have been tasked with dealing with with this process by the Prime Minister and would be more than willing to meet with yourselves in Madrid or we can exchange a video conference at your earliest convenience. ____________________________ Inés Arrimadas First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain​

@Connor

 

[Connor]

Government of Sweden
Löfven Administration

Security Classification: SECURE
Document Classification and Security Act 1995​

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Dear Inés Arrimadas (First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain),

Thank you greatly for your support over the Swedish Antarctic Territory, which has unexpectedly been slingshot to the forefront of many governments agenda over the last few days. I am grateful for the Spanish governments unconditional support and recognition of our claims, the Kingdom of Sweden has retained claim on this region for years without international dispute and as such we intend for it to remain in its current condition. The Kingdom of Sweden is one of the wealthiest countries on the globe and has invested heavily in capability to ensure the continent receives the tender love and attention is so rightfully deserves, the same cannot be said for the nations paying particular attention to 'land-grabbing'.

As an Arctic nation we have the experience necessary to manage, govern and support Antarctica thus we will continue to do so.

I am pleased to hear you are interested in becoming a supporting member state for the Nordic Council. Our shared values certainly make cooperation in the future much easier, I will consult with Secretary General Emilie Dahl over the coming days whom will undoubtedly in turn discuss this with the Nordic Council. I must stress however that this will not be a simple process as the Stockholm Treaty, the treaty establishing the council, is still very much undergoing negotiation with the other founding members. I will be in touch in due course.

Regards,
Lucia Björklund
Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs for European Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs