Defense Minister Pal Jonson said Stockholm would offer either corvettes or minesweepers, depending on other allies’ contributions, as well as an ASC 890 airborne early-warning plane. The government also ordered closer cooperation between the Swedish Armed Forces and the Coast Guard to combat hybrid threats.
“Everything indicates that the Russian threat is long-term,” Kristersson said in his keynote speech at a three-day security conference in the ski resort of Sälen. “Our defense must be the same.”
Sweden’s parliament passed a law in December 2024 to increase defense funding through 2030. The country intends to allocate 2.4% of GDP to defense this year, rising to 2.6% within three years. Kristersson did not rule out further hikes, citing Poland’s budget for military spending—above 4% of GDP—as an example.
Hybrid threats across the region
Kristersson highlighted the risk of non-kinetic aggression, such as cyberattacks, disinformation, and sabotage. He pointed to recent cable damage in the Baltic, allegedly involving a Chinese vessel and a so-called Russian “shadow fleet” tanker.
“Russia and Belarus have used migrants to destabilize Finland and Poland,” Kristersson said, also accusing Iran of using Swedish gangs to target Israel’s mission in Stockholm. He warned that Russian interference in elections in Moldova, Georgia, and Romania could redraw Europe’s political map.
Speakers at Sälen, including members of Sweden’s government and high-ranking NATO officials—and honored by the presence of King Carl XVI Gustaf—stressed the need to prepare for potential escalation in Europe. In early 2024, Swedish officials in Sälen had already warned of a need to brace for possible war.
Sweden, awaiting full NATO membership, aims to strengthen its ties with the alliance. “Being on-site and ready to address threats is critical,” Kristersson said, underscoring that the Baltic Sea has become a hotspot for security concerns.
(jh)
Source: PAP