Sweden bolsters Baltic defenses amid rising hybrid threats
Sweden will send 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 hard to consider the situation peaceful.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated that Sweden will offer NATO corvettes or ships for mine removal—depending on what resources other countries contribute—as well as an ASC 890 early warning aircraft.
The government in Stockholm 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 at 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 defense spending until 2030. In 2024, Sweden will allocate 2.4% of its GDP to this purpose, and by 2027, this indicator will increase to 2.6%.
He noted that the situation might require further measures to strengthen defense, referencing Poland as an example, where over 4% of GDP is allocated to defense.
Kristersson also pointed out hybrid threats affecting Sweden and the Baltic region countries. 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 destabilize 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, warning that successful interference could lead to a significant redrawing of Europe's borders.
In January 2024, during the previous edition of the Sälen conference, Swedish politicians and military officials emphasized the necessity of preparing for the possibility of war. This year's conference, with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden as the guest of honor, also gathered high-ranking NATO representatives.
