Sweden bolsters baltic defenses amid hybrid threats
Sweden will deploy three ships and a reconnaissance aircraft to protect underwater cables in the Baltic Sea as part of a NATO operation, announced Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Sunday. He emphasized that although Sweden is not formally involved in any armed conflict, it is difficult to consider the situation peaceful.
Defence Minister Pål Jonson stated that Sweden would offer NATO either corvettes or mine clearance ships—depending on what resources other countries contribute—as well as an ASC 890 early warning aircraft.
The government in Stockholm has also decided to enhance operational cooperation between the Swedish Armed Forces and the Coast Guard to more effectively counteract hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea.
In a speech opening a three-day security conference in the ski resort of Sälen in the Scandinavian Mountains, Prime Minister Kristersson emphasized: “Sweden is not at war. But it is not a state of peace either. The Russian threat is a long-term one. And our defence planning must also be long-term.”
He reminded that in December 2024, the Swedish parliament passed a law increasing defence spending until 2030. In 2024, Sweden will allocate 2.4% of its GDP to this purpose, and by 2027, this figure will rise to 2.6%.
He noted that the situation might require further measures to strengthen defence capabilities, referencing Poland as an example, where over 4% of GDP is allocated to defence.
Kristersson also pointed out hybrid threats affecting Sweden and the countries in the Baltic region. He noted that such attacks do not require missiles or military forces but are based on using computers, finances, disinformation, or acts of sabotage.
He cited actions by Iran, which allegedly used gangs in Sweden to attack an Israeli facility in Stockholm, and Russia and Belarus, which used migrants to destabilise Finland and Poland. The prime minister also recalled recent cases of cable damage in the Baltic Sea, for which a Chinese ship and a tanker belonging to the so-called Russian shadow fleet are suspected.
Kristersson emphasized Russia's efforts to interfere in elections in Moldova, Georgia, and Romania, cautioning that successful interference could lead to significant changes in Europe's territorial landscape.
In January 2024, during the previous edition of the Sälen conference, Swedish politicians and military officials emphasised the necessity of preparing for the possibility of war. This year's conference, with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden as the guest of honour, also gathered high-ranking NATO representatives.
