After Russian threats, Sweden declares a state of military alert
Sweden declared, on Friday, a state of military alert, after submitting an application to join NATO to deter any counter-movement, and reinforced its military forces stationed on the strategic island of Gotland.
Reserve forces have been mobilized and exercises have been intensified over the past weeks on the island of Gotland, which occupies a strategic location in the middle of the Baltic Sea, according to "AFP".
With the return of tension with Moscow, the resort, popular with Stockholmers for vacation, has regained its strategic character.
On Monday, Sweden announced that it had submitted a request to join the military alliance, following the example of Finland in a new step that would increase tension with Russia.
According to "Sky News Arabia", Stockholm's decision follows a similar decision taken by Finland, to give the two countries bordering Russia a new foothold for NATO on the Russian borders.
"Control of the island is practically controlling air and sea movements in the Baltic Sea," says Colonel Magnus Freikvall, commander of the Swedish military's P18 battalion, tasked with guarding Gotland.
After the Gotland battalion was suspended in 2005 and officially reactivated in 2018, it now includes about 800 Swedish soldiers.
He adds that "the current plan is to increase the personnel to four thousand during wartime."
He added, "The country's accession to NATO will deter any country from attacking the island," noting that "32 countries are stronger than one country," referring to Russia's strength against the alliance countries.
The Swedish army ranks 25th among the world's most powerful armies, with an estimated defense budget of $8.6 billion.
It has 38,000 soldiers, including 16,000 active forces and 22,000 paramilitaries, and has 204 warplanes, 371 armored vehicles and 49 self-propelled guns, in addition to 316 naval units within the 5 largest naval fleets in the world.
Sweden covers an area of 450 thousand and 295 square kilometers and has a coastline of 3,218 km in length and a common border with other countries of 2,211 km in length.
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