Sweden is neither at war nor at peace, says PM Kristersson as country deploys warships in Baltic Sea

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.

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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 investigation into the Eagle S ship which was suspected of damaging a cable between Finland and Estonia last month, Kristersson noted that a Swedish submarine rescue ship has recovered the anchor as of now.

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“Sweden does not jump to conclusions or accuse anyone of sabotage without very strong reasons. The work continues and the National Security Council is updated on an ongoing basis,” he said. “But we are not naive either. The security situation and the fact that strange things happen time and time again in the Baltic Sea also lead us to believe that hostile intent cannot be ruled out," the Swedish premier added.

‘Sweden has changed’: Kristersson

The prime minister mentioned that he held a meeting with the heads of the state and government of the Baltic Sea in Helsinki, Finland’s capital, on Tuesday. “None of us are making frivolous accusations. But we all take it seriously," he remarked.

While emphasising the domestic support Sweden has received over its recent membership in NATO, Kristersson said that the country has “changed”. “Sweden is no longer a blue-eyed idealist on the sidelines, but instead had become a realist in the centre of events,” he said.

It is pertinent to note that the Nordic nation contributes 2.4 per cent of GDP to NATO, a figure which the Prime Minister said is expected to grow to 2.6 per cent in three years’ time. The country’s spending on civil defence is due to grow to a total of 37.5bn SEK (£2.75bn) by 2030, with the building of a new national cybersecurity centre underway.

With inputs from agencies.