Sweden warns Russia could test NATO by seizing Baltic island

Sweden is preparing for a scenario in which Russia could test NATO’s resolve by occupying an island in the Baltic Sea at short notice, the country’s top military commander has warned.

Michael Claesson, Sweden’s Chief of Defence, said Moscow could launch a limited maritime operation “at any time,” potentially as early as tomorrow, as part of a strategy to probe divisions within the alliance. His remarks come amid concerns that Donald Trump could scale back US commitments to European allies, a factor that may embolden the Kremlin, The Times reports.

Speaking about evolving threat scenarios, Claesson noted that while previous assessments of a potential Russian attack on NATO have focused on land operations along the alliance’s eastern flank, attention is increasingly shifting to maritime vulnerabilities in the Baltic Sea.

A recent assessment by Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service warned that the threat posed by Russia is set to grow in the coming years. The report indicated that Moscow is likely to continue expanding its military capabilities near Sweden’s borders.

According to the document, Russia already possesses the capacity to carry out a limited strike in Sweden’s immediate vicinity. Within the next five years, however, it could be capable of launching a broader offensive aimed at seizing significant territory and establishing naval and air superiority in the region.

Claesson stressed that the eventual end of the war in Ukraine could create conditions for Russia to regroup and redirect forces toward NATO’s eastern flank, increasing the risk of a new military operation in Northern Europe.

By Vugar Khalilov