As NATO’s 32nd member country, Sweden can now be fully integrated into the defense alliance’s new defense plans. Sweden is included together with Finland, Denmark and the Baltic countries in NATO’s regional plan Central.
The plan aims to be able to meet a Russian attack along the entire border with Russia from Norway at the top of the north, through Finland, the Baltics, Poland and Hungary.
In that plan, Sweden has a very important role for NATO’s collective defense, according to Carl-Johan Edström, head of the Swedish Armed Forces’ operations management.
Sweden is, according to him, a long-awaited member state both for its military capabilities and for its geographical location.
– When we join NATO, Sweden becomes safer and NATO much stronger. These are not empty words, says Edström.
At the Russian border
If there were to be a war between NATO and Russia, the Swedish Armed Forces expect that major battles with ground and air combat forces will primarily take place along the border with Russia.
But larger battles are also considered to be possible in certain areas closer to Sweden.
Edström points out three key geographic areas in the defense plan that form a “strategic operational triangle”. The corners of that triangle are tied together by Sweden.
At the top is the Nordkalotten.
– We must be able to be a strong player there, says Edström.
On the Northern Hemisphere, NATO is planning for a defense with a multinational army corps or army division in which Sweden will be a “clear part”, according to him.
– We have ground forces with the unique ability to operate in an arctic environment, says Edström.
Defend Gotland
The Baltic Sea area from Gotland towards the Baltics is the second area in the triangle. Supplies, dressings and ammunition must be able to be transported by sea to the Baltics and Finland.
– Our absolute biggest task there is to be able to clearly secure and control the area and shipping, says Edström.
According to him, the Swedish navy, with its nine surface combat ships and soon five submarines, will be one of the strongest actors in the Baltic Sea.
– We actually have the strongest navy, if you look at all the countries around the Baltic Sea, he says.
– And we have a navy that is uniquely designed to handle the Baltic Sea environment.
Gotland is, according to Edström, a very strategic point, among other things to be able to deploy long-range weapon systems.
– We as a country must ensure that Gotland is always defended, he says.
Attack with robots
The third area in the triangle is the West Coast and the entrance to the Baltic Sea. The port of Gothenburg is the largest and most important port in Scandinavia and also important for being able to receive military reinforcements from the USA.
– It is very important that you can defend it and ensure that you maintain these flows, says Edström.
On the West Coast, the battles could consist of Russian attacks with cruise robots, fighter jets and submarines against important NATO transports.
In NATO’s plans, Sweden’s territory will above all be a rear area where air, sea and land combat forces can be based in order to be brought forward as reinforcements to areas where the fighting is going on.
Sweden must not only, within the framework of the so-called host country support, have the capacity to receive military reinforcements and ensure that they can be transported onward.
– You also have to ensure that you can protect these bases, transports and infrastructure, says Edström.