Dimitris Karkamanis, a member of the Greek community in Sweden and a Social Democratic candidate for Stockholm City Council, spoke on Voice of Greece’s “Our Global Voice” with Dimitris Kontogiannis.
He discussed what is at stake in Sunday’s elections, the declining participation of Greeks in the electoral process, and the reasons Sweden has developed a strong defense industry that produces and exports world-class military equipment.
Mr. Karkamanis, who has served as an analyst at the Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters, financial manager of the Gripen JAS 39 fighter aircraft program, and a senior executive at Hellenic Aerospace Industry in Greece, examined the historical, institutional, and other factors behind Sweden’s long-standing investment in defense autonomy. He contrasted this approach with that of Greece, which largely purchases expensive, ready-made weapons systems.