Sweden's military warns Baltic Sea wind farms undermine national defence

Sweden’s military has raised concerns that offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea are compromising the country's defence capabilities, as they hinder the military's ability to detect potential threats.

This warning follows the Swedish government's recent decision to block the construction of 13 offshore wind farms in the Baltic on November 4, as well as halt another project near Gotland on November 21, citing defence-related concerns, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

The Swedish Armed Forces reiterated their position, stating that all proposed wind farm projects in the Baltic could pose significant problems for national security. “The Swedish Armed Forces have been clear in their evaluation of offshore wind energy in the Baltic Sea,” a military spokesperson said, adding that such developments would present “unacceptable risks” for Sweden and its allies.

According to the military, the towers and rotating blades of wind turbines interfere with radar systems, generating echoes and other disruptions that compromise the detection of threats. The proximity of the blocked wind farm projects to Russia’s heavily militarized exclave of Kaliningrad, located between Poland and Lithuania, was highlighted as a key factor in the government’s assessment.

Defence Minister Pal Jonson emphasized that wind farms in this area could severely limit the ability to detect incoming cruise missiles, reducing the warning time to just 60 seconds.

The Swedish Armed Forces also stated that, at present, there are no viable technical or legal solutions to reconcile national defence interests with the expansion of wind power in the Baltic Sea. “Given the deteriorating security situation following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we can no longer afford any risks to our defence capabilities,” the military said.

Sweden’s ability to detect threats against both itself and its NATO allies is seen as crucial, with the military stressing that its sensor network must operate at maximum efficiency to provide early warning.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, tensions in the Baltic have increased, and with Sweden and Finland now NATO members, all Baltic states are aligned with the alliance, leaving Russia isolated in the region.

Despite these security concerns, the Swedish government remains committed to expanding wind power, noting that electricity consumption is expected to double by 2045. The government has suggested that alternative sites off Sweden’s southwestern and northeastern coasts may be better suited for offshore wind farms.

By Vafa Guliyeva