Sweden announced that it would contribute up to three warships and a surveillance aircraft to a Nato effort. The warships are being sent to monitor critical infrastructure and Russia’s “shadow fleet” as the alliance tries to fight the recent sabotage of the underwater infrastructure
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Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson. File Photo.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that his country is “neither at war nor at peace” as Stockholm sends warships and armed forces into the Baltic Sea. This is the first time Sweden has sent military reinforcement in the region as a part of increased surveillance efforts. In the span of just a few months, the Baltic Sea has witnessed a spate of suspected sabotage of undersea cables. Hence, the Nordic nations are working together to monitor the region.
On Sunday, Sweden announced that it would contribute up to three warships and a surveillance aircraft to a Nato effort. The warships are being sent to monitor critical infrastructure and Russia’s “shadow fleet” as the alliance tries to fight the recent sabotage of the underwater infrastructure.
Kristersson addressed the matter while speaking on the opening day of Sweden’s three-day annual Folk och Försvars (people and defence) conference in Sälen. He also maintained that the “hostile intent cannot be ruled out” when it comes to the recent Baltic undersea cable breaks.
Sweden is amid hybrid attack and proxy wars
Kristersson emphasised that Sweden is witnessing “hybrid attacks and proxy wars”. He went on to cite Iran’s alleged use of members of Swedish gangs to commit crimes. “Sweden is not at war. But there is no peace either,” he remarked. “True peace requires freedom and the absence of serious conflicts between countries. But we and our neighbours are exposed to hybrid attacks, carried out not with robots and soldiers, but with computers, money, disinformation and the risk of sabotage,” the Swedish premier furthered.
Kristersson went on to emphasise that those who want peace must be “prepared for war”. In a later press conference, the Swedish prime minister said that the country would send an ASC 890 reconnaissance aircraft and up to three warships. “This is the first time that Sweden has contributed armed forces in our own immediate area,” he said.
While commenting on the ongoing