The Swedish Minister of Justice, Gunnar Strömmer, is scheduled to visit his Danish counterpart, Peter Hummelgaard, next week in light of a surge in violence and gang-related crime involving Swedish citizens. This meeting comes as Danish authorities have increasingly called for Sweden to address the criminal elements that threaten the security of both countries.

The purpose of Strömmer’s visit is to discuss a more future-proof collaboration between the two countries to combat the growing cross-border crime. Hummelgaard has firmly stated that Sweden must take greater responsibility for resolving its internal crime issues, a stance that has intensified as more Swedish citizens have been arrested in Denmark with weapons, including firearms and hand grenades.

“I clearly believe that Swedes also have a very significant responsibility to clean up in their own society,” stated Peter Hummelgaard in a statement earlier this week. These comments have elicited responses from Swedish authorities, who acknowledge their own challenges with gang crime but emphasize that this does not make them responsible for all crime in neighboring countries.

The head of Sweden’s National Operational Department, Håkan Wall, pointed out that while Sweden’s gang problems are indeed significant, both Denmark and Norway also face distinct challenges, of which Sweden unfortunately becomes a part.

Despite the tough rhetoric, Hummelgaard has emphasized the value of the existing collaboration with Sweden, while insisting that the Nordic countries must address the consequences arising from Sweden’s internal crime issues.