Sweden advises citizens to ready themselves for war

The war in Ukraine has made European nations very nervous, so much so that in the fall of 2023, Sweden's Civil Defence Minister, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, told citizens they need to prepare for the worst.

Mr Bohlin spoke at the Folk Och Forsvar conference last fall (roughly translated as the "Society and Defence" conference) in Salen. He discussed the need for war readiness in the country, saying, "Many have said it before me, but let me say it with the force of my office – there could be a war in Sweden."

Mr Bohlin (pictured) not only warned the Swedes about the real chance that Sweden is facing the possibility of war but also asked citizens to be prepared and aware that it is something that can really happen.

Worry, haste, misgivings, pressure...the situation in Sweden, one of the neutral countries par excellence, has become so tense that many citizens are experiencing worries that never entered their minds before; as Mr Bohlin said during his speech, Sweden has experienced peace for the past 210 years.

As 'Newsweek' reports, Swedish Defense Minister, Pål Jonson (pictured), issued a similar warning to the public in his speech at the conference as well, saying, "...the world has become more dangerous than it was just a year ago."

Mr Jonson also made it clear where the biggest threat to Swedish security is coming from saying, "War can also come to us. These serious times require clarity of vision, capacity to act and persistence—clarity of vision to understand that Russia's goal remains the eradication of a free Ukraine and creation of a Europe in which 'might is right,' with buffer states and spheres of interest."

Jonson went on to say that Sweden must not repeat mistakes from the past, "We have already experienced this in the past. We must not go back there and allow our children to grow up in that kind of Europe."

Defence Minister Jonson also stated that the situation in the United States is worrying. Jonson stated that the "uncertainty" surrounding the how the U.S. presidential elections will play out will have an impact globally.

Commander-in-Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces, Micael Byden (pictured) also spoke at the conference. Commander Byden issued a harsh warning to the public in line with Jonson and Bohlin's statements: "This is a very serious situation...Look at the news from Ukraine and ask yourself the simple questions: If this happens here, am I prepared? What should I do? The more people who have thought, considered and prepared, the stronger our society will be."

Faced with "the greatest threat since the Second World War", Sweden clearly does not want to make things easy for an aggressor in the event of an invasion. The proof is that at the beginning of 2023, the country recovered compulsory military service, which was abolished in 2008.

Naturally, along with these warnings from those charged with protecting Sweden, there is a defence plan that the country's leaders say is "historic", as reported by Newsweek. The plan will be revealed to the public later this year, and the Swedish government hopes that a new defence plan will help reinforce the importance of Sweden being a NATO ally.

While the entire plan has yet to be revealed, Mr Jonson spoke of the defence plan's four main goals, which, according to Newsweek, are: "building a stronger military corps, complete with both conscripts and professional soldiers; employing long-term ammunition procurements within the Nordic region to shorten waits for defence-related materials; introducing a revamped defence innovation strategy to achieve technological superiority on the battlefield; and swift expansion regarding security and establishing a "growth-based defence.""

But let's go back to why Sweden suddenly is worried about war. It all began in May 2022, when Sweden and Finland decided to join NATO in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While Finland officially joined in April 2023, it has not been easy for Sweden, and it is still trying to do so.

Turkey and Hungary opposed Sweden's accession, which has delayed the process. However, if nothing strange happens, Sweden will become the 32nd member of NATO in July 2024, when the next summit is held in Washington DC in the United States.

The political situation in the United States and the uncertainty of the result of the November 2024 presidential elections there has made Sweden want to rush its entry into NATO. A Republican victory could reduce funding to Ukraine and lead to a fall of the country, and the next Russian step for invasion could be towards Sweden.

Sweden's strategic importance in the Baltic Sea is undeniable. Its accession to NATO would imply control of 'NATO Lake', as well as increasing military air power in the event of an eventual attack, according to Newsweek.

The threat Russia poses to Sweden will not go away anytime soon. As  Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström told the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter on January 6, Russia will remain a Swedish and NATO threat indefinitely, saying, "We must prepare for a long-term confrontation that will continue as long as Russia violates the U.N. charter and the European security order."