US Pres.Obama visits Sweden

Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt states ahead of the visit of US President Barak Obama that the most important issues on the agenda are free trade, environmental technology and the global security situation, with special focus on Syria.

"There will be a whole deal on free trade, climate policy and the state of the world," Reinfeldt said. "The real controversial issues concern free trade."

It is reportedly unlikely that Reinfeldt will take up issues such as Guantanamo, drone attacks and NSA electronic surveillance, although the Swedish PM denies that any subject has been ruled out.

The Swedish PM is on record as saying that Sweden doesn't believe that a military solution is available for the Syrian conflict. Reinfeldt says however that he can understand the risks of not responding if chemical weapons can be proved to have been used in Syria.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt comments on the fine weather that has greeted Obama in Stockholm:

"Well, first ever bilateral visit by a US President to Sweden has started. Sun shining."

Stockholm is indeed showing its best side on Wednesday with blue skies, 20C temperatures and glittering water are on offer for anyone seeking to tackle the traffic and head in to town in the hope of a glimpse of the man who can.

Obama has landed (for the second time today) at Stockholm's Grand Hôtel for a little lunch and meeting with US ambassador to Sweden, Mark Brzezinski.

The Grand Hôtel, which lies directly opposite the Royal Palace on Blasieholmen in central Stockholm is owned by the Wallenberg dynasty through the family's investment firm Investor.

US President Barack Obama visits Stockholm Synagogue, Wednesday to honour the memory of Raoul Wallenberg, whose relatives asked for his help in establishing the fate of the deceased Swedish diplomat.

The US president does not ride alone. The US entourage extends to some 600 people including some hundred or so journalists who follow the President wherever he goes. Furthermore the vehicle he is now travelling in, nicknamed "The Beast", follows along wherever the President goes.

Sweden's Television questions whether the massive security operation is part of a show of power. The conclusion appears be that the party equates to what is needed for the world's most powerful leader to do go about his business.

After Obama's stop in Stockholm the party will continue to St.Petersburg for a G20 meet.

The brass band begins playing. Barack Obama is walking down the steps of Air Force One. He has just shaken hands with foreign minster Carl Bildt, Vice-PM Jan Björklund and Centre Party and Christian Democrat leaders Annie Lööf and Göran Hägglund respectively.


Earlier:

  US President Barack Obama will arrive in Stockholm on Wednesday morning in a delicate position as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate likely to face pressure to explain his motives for plans to strike Syria.
Obama is set to land in Stockholm's Arlanda airport early on Wednesday morning for a busy two-day schedule including meets with Nordic prime ministers and the Swedish royal family.

He may reprise some of the arguments he made when he picked up his Nobel prize in Oslo in 2009, when he effectively made a case for when a US president may choose to wage war - to protect American security, for humanitarian reasons, or to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

Obama headed for Sweden and the G20 summit in Russia after making important political headway at home when top Republican leaders firmly backed his plan to punish Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a chemical weapons attack.

The US president decided to seek congressional approval in a surprise development on Saturday, saying he is ready to launch "limited" action despite Russia's decision to prevent the UN Security Council framing a mandate for action.

Obama does not currently have any one-on-one meetings scheduled with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the two leaders will run into each other at the inevitable photocalls of the G20 summit in St Petersburg on Friday.

Officials say however, that with press conferences in Sweden planned for Wednesday and in Russia on Friday, the president will be able to make forceful interventions in the debate back home.

When he arrives in Stockholm, Obama will hold talks with Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, in the first-ever bilateral visit by an incumbent US president to the country.

They will discuss climate change, defense and security cooperation and trade and development, as well as key foreign policy challenges including Syria and Egypt, a senior US official said.

Obama will then celebrate the life of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who rescued thousands of Jews from Nazi-occupied Hungary - on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

On Wednesday evening, Obama will attend a dinner hosted by Sweden for the President of Finland and the prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland and Norway. He is due to leave Sweden on Thursday afternoon. (Reports from THE LOCAL, Sept. 4, 2013)