Sweden, together with NATO partners, is planning to “defend against Russia” the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, according to the country’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. This statement was reported by the Financial Times (FT).
Kristersson stated that strengthening the defense of Gotland will be one of the first issues on the agenda for discussions with NATO partners. The Swedish Prime Minister noted that currently his country has only a “small” military presence on the island. He reminded that other countries in Northern Europe and the Baltic often referred to Gotland as a critical vulnerability of the alliance.
Kristersson acknowledged that there are quite a few questions regarding how to use resources and what to focus on the most. The Prime Minister stated that Sweden may increase its military presence on Gotland and deploy submarines there.
Gotland is the largest island in Sweden, located approximately 330 km from Kaliningrad, where the headquarters of the Russian Baltic Fleet is located.
On March 11, the flag of Sweden was raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels, after which the country officially became a member of the alliance. However, representatives of the state stated that they do not currently see the need to deploy NATO bases or nuclear weapons on the country’s territory.
Earlier, Sweden urged its population to stock up on canned food in case of a war with Russia.
Article:
Sweden, in collaboration with its NATO partners, has announced its intention to enhance the defense of the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, in an effort to protect it from potential Russian aggression. The country’s Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, revealed this plan, emphasizing the importance of this issue in discussions with NATO allies. Currently, Sweden only maintains a limited military presence on the island, but Kristersson highlighted the concerns of other Northern European and Baltic countries about the vulnerability of the alliance in the region.
Recognizing the need for strategic resource allocation, Kristersson suggested the possibility of increasing the Swedish military presence on Gotland, including the deployment of submarines. Gotland, being the largest island in Sweden, is geographically close to Kaliningrad, where the Russian Baltic Fleet is headquartered, making it a strategically significant location.
Sweden’s recent accession to NATO, marked by the raising of its flag at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels on March 11, indicates its commitment to collective defense. However, Swedish officials have clarified that there are no immediate plans for the deployment of NATO bases or nuclear weapons within the country.
In light of the escalating tensions between Russia and Sweden, the Swedish government has advised its citizens to prepare for potential emergencies by stocking up on essential supplies, including canned food, in case of a conflict with Russia.
The defense of Gotland serves as a crucial step for Sweden to safeguard its national security and contribute to the collective defense efforts of NATO. As the nation takes proactive measures to fortify its position, the international community will closely monitor the developments in this region of strategic importance.
