In a significant move, the Center Party in Sweden has demanded the nationalization and state control of Kubal, the only aluminum smelting plant in the country, currently owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska and his company Rusal.

Highlighting concerns over the plant's strategic importance and its ties to the Russian military complex, the party argues that taking control would secure Swedish interests and diminish Russian influence.

Despite Deripaska's close connections with President Putin and allegations of involvement in serious crimes, the plant plays a crucial role in supplying aluminum to various Swedish industries.

The government, while open to discussing sanctions against Russian aluminum, has not yet commented on the proposal for direct state control.

This move has sparked a debate on the balance between national security and maintaining the integrity of Sweden's industrial base.