In the muddy woodlands of a Baltic island, Sweden’s soldiers are getting ready for a Russian attack
Wet snow turns to drizzle. Thanks to some diplomatic backing and security screening by the German and French embassies in Stockholm, I finally received permission from the Armed Forces’ headquarters to enter the military facility on Gotland, a strategically important island in the middle of the Baltic Sea. When I crouch down in the muddy ground, I try as best I can to catch the tense faces of the young soldiers who are deployed over the coniferous forest, pass a hidden tank, pause behind a few rocks for a few seconds, and then quietly move on to a ditch that separates a small ridge from a large open meadow. It’s like a choreographed war ballet, every single fighter fits smoothly into the well – trained mechanism of their squad. Suddenly some dark silhouettes appear in the grassland in front of them. Group leader Benjamin commands: “Open fire!”
Build abilities
Happily enough, I have some good earplugs, the recruits use sharp ammunition for today’s training. All day long professional soldiers, new arrivals and conscripts mingle in small groups over the huge forest area. It is about knowledge transfer. About learning to deal with bad surprises. And about how to defeat enemy paratroopers trying to conquer an airfield.
After the end of the Cold War, Sweden demilitarized the island. A somewhat naive belief prevailed that eternal peace had broken out. Then Russia occupied Crimea, in 2014. The Swedish government re-evaluated Gotland’s vulnerability – and stationed several hundred soldiers here. Now, with Putin’s war in Ukraine, Sweden has accelerated its rearmament. Gotland’s regimental commander Magnus Frykvall has some precious minutes to spend on a short interview.
“What’s on your wish list?”, I want to know, and: “Can you defend Gotland in any attack?”
“I would like more air defense, I would like more tanks,” Frykvall answers. “But I must emphasize that we are building that ability right now. We have a high level of preparedness on Gotland. Gotland can be defended and will be defended.”
Opposition parties called for immediate NATO membership
Is there a real risk that Russia could seize Gotland? In Stockholm, I put the question to Hans Wallmark, foreign spokesman for one of the largest opposition parties, the Moderates:
“Can you exclude any form of military action on the part of Russia against the Baltic states, against your state, against Gotland?”, I ask. Wallmark is straightforward and gives short and sharp answers: “No, and that is why we need to join NATO.”
“When will Sweden join NATO?”, I ask Wallmark.
His response: “Well, I hope we can vote in Parliament before the summer, so that we can join NATO as an incoming country at the Madrid Summit at the end of June.”
As early as 1808, the Russians invaded Gotland. Four weeks later, Sweden threw them out again. And today? If Sweden joins NATO, Moscow can arm Iskander missiles in the nearby Russian Kaliningrad enclave with nuclear warheads.
It is speculated that Russia wants to conquer Gotland to install S-400 missiles. This would allow Moscow to control the entire Baltics. But protected by NATO membership, Sweden’s territory would be “Hands off!” for Russia.
Sweden and Finland are members of the European Union – but not of NATO. Putin’s war in Ukraine is heating up the debate: more and more people want to fall under the protective shield of the Western Defense Alliance. It is a hot topic in the upcoming Swedish election campaign. During this assignment in April, I have several background talks with well-informed sources in the Swedish capital and gather clear signals that the country will abandon its historic freedom of alliance and will soon join NATO, together with Finland.
Putin’s war in Ukraine triggered a change in public opinion in Sweden and Finland. For decades, both countries were proud of their military freedom of alliance, but now there is a clear majority to join the Western Defense Alliance.
Creates a new system for European security
A piece of information at the last minute appears on my smartphone. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has called for a short-term press conference. A little back and forth later and a brief discussion with the Prime Minister’s Head of Communications, I have the opportunity to ask Andersson some questions: “Russia issued a threat against your government, you are under pressure from Moscow not to join NATO! Given the war in Ukraine, are you considering hastening a decision to join NATO soon? ”I ask her.
The Swedish Prime Minister’s answer: “What we are all fighting for is peace in Ukraine – but also the European security order. And a central part of that is that it is up to each country to decide for itself. We make our own decision and we make it at the speed we decide. ”
To get a clearer answer, I go to a follow-up question: “But NATO membership is not excluded?”, I ask Andersson.
Answer: “It is not out of the question. We will do what we believe is best for Sweden’s security. ”
Strong Vikings who defend themselves – this traditional Swedish self-perception is slowly fading away. Confronted with an aggressive superpower in the immediate area, raging war and destruction against a sovereign country on the European mainland, most Swedes would sleep better if they were protected by NATO’s security guarantee under Article 5 of the Defense Alliance Treaty and reflected in NATO’s motto: All for one and one for all.