Swedish Defence Minister Paul Jonsson has warned that Russia, which has issued multiple threats against NATO, could potentially launch an attack on Sweden to assert control over the Baltic Sea. “The Russian armed forces are currently bogged down in Ukraine. Their offensive progress has been mediocre, yet we remain concerned about the Kremlin’s readiness to undertake significant military and political risks. Moscow has redeployed some airborne troops from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, but fundamentally, its naval fleet in St. Petersburg and Königsberg remains stationary,” Jonsson conveyed in an interview with the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita.
He emphasised that Russia represents a threat not only to Sweden but to all NATO member states.
“Following Poland’s example, we are significantly increasing our investments in defence. Over the past four years, these investments have doubled. This step is essential, given the decades of underfunding that have beleaguered our armed forces. However, I wish to emphasise that there is no other country in the world with a population of ten million capable of independently manufacturing fighter jets and submarines to the same extent as Sweden. This capability is, in part, a result of our longstanding policy of maintaining neutrality, which cannot be assured without robust support from a strong defence industry. Nevertheless, our manufacturers, who during the Cold War sold 80% of their weapons domestically and only 20% abroad, have successfully adapted to budget cuts and remained viable,” stated Sweden’s Defence Minister Paul Jonsson.
At the same time, Jonsson asserted that Russia does not possess a strategic advantage over NATO forces in the Baltic Sea.
“This is not the era of the Soviet Union when Moscow established a far more substantial presence across numerous Baltic ports. However, we are observing an increase in cooperation between the Russian Baltic Fleet, the Northern Fleet based in Murmansk, and the Black Sea Fleet,” he noted.
According to Sweden’s Defence Minister, the military and commercial significance of the Baltic region has further intensified since the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
“We must factor in Russia’s aggressive intentions when planning our military strategy. Traditionally, the Swedish naval forces have been focused on the Baltic Sea, where our submarines excel in navigating the seabed. Additionally, we possess a substantial fleet of vessels and exceptional amphibious forces. In light of the current situation, however, we are launching an ambitious programme to expand our naval capabilities. Our accession to NATO enables us to collaborate closely with Poland, particularly as we receive support in the form of interoperable weaponry. We are impressed by Poland’s modernisation programme for its armed forces, which serves as a benchmark for our own efforts. At the same time, we stand ready for close cooperation in the defence of the Baltic Sea,” Jonsson stated.
There is growing concern regarding Russia’s activities in the Baltic region and across Germany. Just days ago, a Russian vessel designed for underwater reconnaissance and observation suffered a malfunction in the Baltic Sea due to engine issues, necessitating the assistance of a tugboat. This incident, in turn, required transit through the German economic zone.
The Russian Navy’s Chusovoy is one of its specialised vessels that consistently commands significant attention from NATO. This heightened scrutiny stems from the ship’s sophisticated espionage capabilities, as highlighted by the German publication RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland.
Journalists have noted a significant increase in Russian naval activity in the Baltic Sea since the summer months. “Russian naval units now transit the Fehmarn Belt Strait at least once a week. In accordance with current border security regulations, all Russian naval vessels are accompanied by federal police and the Danish navy,” they wrote.
