“We can not permit that”
Sweden’s army chief fears Putin’s access to the Baltic Sea
May 22, 2024, 5:32 a.m
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The new NATO member Sweden is keeping a watchful eye on the Baltic Sea. Supreme Commander Biden is certain that Putin wants to occupy the Swedish island of Gotland in order to threaten the entire Baltics. The island is now being massively upgraded.
The commander-in-chief of the Swedish armed forces, Micael Biden, has warned against Russia’s ambitions for power in the Baltic Sea. “I am sure that Russian President Vladimir Putin has even cast both eyes on Gotland. Putin’s goal is to gain control of the Baltic Sea,” the army chief told the newspapers of the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND). “If Russia takes control and seals off the Baltic Sea, it would have enormous consequences for our lives – in Sweden and all other Baltic Sea states. We cannot allow that to happen,” Biden said. “The Baltic Sea must not become Putin’s playground where he can scare NATO members.”
“There were times when we reduced our military presence on Gotland to such an extent that we only had a volunteer Home Guard force there. These peaceful times are over,” said the army chief. The war in Ukraine changed the political situation in Europe, “and we had to massively arm Gotland. With permanently stationed units, we are now securing the island and temporarily bringing additional forces there if the danger situation increases. Whoever controls Gotland controls them Baltic Sea.”
From Gotland, Sweden can help other NATO states on the Baltic Sea to live in safety. “But if Putin invades Gotland, he can threaten NATO countries from the sea. That would be the end of peace and stability in the Nordic and Baltic regions,” Biden said. Sweden joined NATO in March despite strong protests from Russia. It was only the Russian attack on Ukraine that caused the Swedish government to rethink its approach.
Danger of Russian oil tankers
He also warned of a serious disaster caused by old Russian oil tankers in the Baltic Sea. “Russia could cause an environmental disaster right on our doorstep and make it look like an accident. The environmental consequences would be devastating,” Biden told RND newspapers. The Russian oil tankers are a “real danger to the environment in Europe”.
Russia could also use these ships in other ways to wage war against NATO, Biden said. “There is no better way for Russia to sneak up on us than by disguising itself as an old oil tanker. They can use the ships to eavesdrop on our communications, secretly transport something or use them for underwater sabotage.”