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The Old Country Newsletter – Get ready for Köttbullens dag!
Your Weekly Newsletter from Sweden!
Philip Hannes
August 22, 2025
Good morning!
It’s Friday, August 22.
From last week’s poll, we learned that most of your ancestors emigrated during the 20th century. Fascinating—though perhaps not too surprising.
That century may feel far away, but we hope that a weekly read from The Old Country helps you sense the echoes of your ancestors’ footsteps, bringing the land across the Atlantic a little closer.
This week, we follow churches on wheels, government drama, and a Swedish-American partnership on the rise. Håll i hatten and buckle up!
P.S. Don’t forget—tomorrow, August 23rd, is Köttbullens Dag, Sweden’s very own Meatball Day!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Philip & Hannes
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Word of the week
GLÖD [gleuhd]
glowing embers, passion.
Kiruna Moves a Church — With the World Watching
Attribution: Tele2 Play
It’s not every day you see a 672-ton church rolling through the streets of a mining town in northern Sweden. But that’s exactly what’s happening in Kiruna, where thousands of residents — along with global media crews and a live-broadcast from SVT — have gathered to witness the once-in-a-lifetime relocation of the city’s beloved church.
After eight years of planning, the iconic Kiruna Church has begun its five-kilometer journey to a new location. The move is part of a massive urban relocation project, driven by ground deformations caused by the nearby iron ore mine. Engineers decided it was safer — and, surprisingly, cheaper — to move the building intact rather than dismantle and rebuild it. Dutch experts are handling the delicate operation, steering the church at a cautious 0.5 kilometers per hour, using what one operator compared to a giant remote control.
Crowds have packed the streets, treating the event like a festival. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson praised the relocation as a symbol of both cultural preservation and the importance of Sweden’s mining industry, calling the church “something truly unique.” Meanwhile, the spectacle has drawn 75 accredited journalists from 38 media outlets, including The Times and The Sunday Times, who see it as a story about more than just bricks and mortar — but about a community forced to redefine its identity. Swedish Television (SVT) have broadcasted the move for two whole days, dubbing it Den Stora Kyrkflytten – a nod to the very popular Den Stora Älgvandringen.
The price tag remains a closely guarded secret. What’s clear, though, is that the move is dramatic, historic, and emotional. As one local observer put it: “The whole town is vibrating with expectation.”
Postcard from the North
Gothenburg
In other news
🇺🇦 Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has stated that Sweden is prepared to provide security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a potential peace agreement. He emphasized that any involvement must be done under safe and secure conditions, with clear commitments. Kristersson mentioned possible contributions such as air surveillance and naval resources but did not give a definitive answer on whether Swedish troops could be deployed in Ukraine.
🚓 A 17-year-old who was sentenced to eight years in prison for a murder in Malmö last year is appealing the verdict, his lawyer announced. The defense claims that the teenager was not the perpetrator and that someone else committed the crime. According to the court, the teen carried out the killing on behalf of the Foxtrot criminal network but mistakenly targeted an innocent father of young children instead of the intended victim.
🏓 Swedish table tennis star Truls Möregårdh advanced to the round of 16 at the Europe Smash in Malmö after a dramatic 3–2 victory over Japan’s Sora Matsushima. The 23-year-old fell behind 2–1 in sets but fought back strongly, winning the decisive final set 11–4. Möregårdh, now the only Swedish player left in the tournament, will face South Korean qualifier Cho Dae-seong next.
Gör Din Röst Hörd
🗣️ Make your voice heard!
Click on the headline below to follow the link, then choose the option that speaks the most to you. The Question of the Week is:
Sweden’s Top Epidemiologist Quits (Or is Fired?) With a Parting Shot
Attribution: Läkartidningen
Sweden’s outgoing state epidemiologist isn’t leaving quietly. Magnus Gisslén, who stepped down from the country’s Public Health Agency this summer, has once again criticized the agency’s leadership — this time accusing them of prioritizing relationships with outside actors over medical science.
In a new social media video, Gisslén said the agency’s decision last spring to withdraw fresh strep throat testing guidelines had little to do with science and everything to do with politics. The guidelines, developed by Gisslén and colleagues, called for broader testing to identify group A strep infections early — a measure that can prevent severe illness and, in rare cases, death. Early detection would have meant timely penicillin treatment.
But the recommendations sparked friction with the Medical Products Agency and Strama, a Swedish network focused on fighting antibiotic resistance. According to Gisslén, that pressure led the new agency leadership to scrap the guidance despite its scientific backing.
The dispute comes on the heels of Gisslén’s resignation, announced after he claimed the agency’s top brass lacked sufficient expertise in infectious diseases. Director-General Olivia Wigzell has pushed back, insisting the Public Health Agency maintains strong medical and academic competence.
The controversy has spilled into politics, too. Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed summoned Wigzell for talks, while the Center Party has demanded answers in parliament on Sweden’s pandemic preparedness. Experts remain divided: some echo Gisslén’s concerns, others say the agency has robust processes in place.
Sweden to Host NATO Logistics Hub for Northern Europe
A Swedish Armed Forces pilot explains the safety procedures of a UH-60M Black Hawk to U.S. Marines with 2d Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division in Skovde, Sweden, April 28, 2023. Marine Rotational Forces Europe 23. Attribution: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Megan Ozaki, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sweden to Host NATO Logistics Hub for Northern Europe
Sweden has agreed to host a new NATO logistics command in the town of Enköping, strengthening the alliance’s ability to move troops and supplies across northern Europe. The decision, announced by Sweden’s government this week, highlights the country’s growing role in NATO defense planning since joining the alliance earlier this year.
The logistics staff, officially called a Joint Logistics Support Group (JLSG), will coordinate NATO troop movements in the Nordic region and from North America. About 70 NATO personnel will be based in Enköping, home to the Swedish Army’s headquarters. Similar hubs exist in Brunssum, Netherlands, and Naples, Italy, with overall logistics command based in Ulm, Germany.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson emphasized Sweden’s strategic location as a land bridge between the North Atlantic and the Baltic states. In a potential conflict with Russia, the hub would help manage large-scale movements of up to 20,000 troops, along with fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and other supplies. A likely scenario involves American forces landing at Norwegian ports on the Atlantic, crossing Sweden, and deploying eastward to Finland and the Baltics.
“This center will make it possible to rapidly shift major resources from west to east if security conditions deteriorate,” Jonson said. He added that Sweden is also strengthening defenses against sabotage and hybrid threats, working closely with intelligence and security agencies.
Sweden’s armed forces are now preparing for the base’s establishment. Supreme Commander Michael Claesson noted that Sweden will not only support logistics but also contribute directly to forward defense operations near Russia’s borders, including missions in Latvia and Finland.
With this move, Sweden cements itself as a key transit and support hub for NATO operations in northern Europe—linking North America, the U.K., and the Nordic countries in a critical defense corridor.