Sweden Boosts Military Preparedness Amid Rising Tensions

Sweden Increases Preparedness Amid Security Concerns

Sweden began distributing millions of brochures on how to prepare for potential war. This effort follows heightened concerns about security in Europe, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mikael Frisels, head of Sweden’s Civil Protection Agency, emphasized the seriousness of the situation. He stated, “We all must strengthen our resilience to various crises, ultimately war.” Since Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, Sweden has urged its citizens to be mentally and logistically ready for possible conflict.

After the Cold War, Sweden significantly reduced its defense spending, focusing on international peacekeeping. However, the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia prompted a change in strategy. Sweden reinstated limited conscription, increased defense budgets, and reestablished a military presence on Gotland, an island in the Baltic Sea.

The new 32-page brochure, titled “If Crisis or War Comes,” provides information on preparing for war, natural disasters, cyberattacks, and terror attacks. This brochure has been updated and redistributed five times since World War II, with 5.2 million households receiving it over the next two weeks.

Notably, the brochure does not mention Russia or Ukraine specifically, despite rising military threats. Civil Defense Minister Karl Oskar Bolin previously caused a stir by warning that “war could start in Sweden.” The former chief of Sweden’s army also urged citizens to mentally prepare for conflict.

Sweden has not engaged in war for over two centuries. The brochure advises stockpiling food and water, keeping cash on hand, and growing fruits and vegetables in gardens. The update emphasizes a greater focus on war preparedness compared to the 2018 version.

Additionally, the Swedish government made the brochure available in several languages, including Arabic, Persian, Ukrainian, Polish, Somali, and Finnish. Meanwhile, Finland launched a new website offering information on crisis readiness.

Both Sweden and Finland have moved away from decades of military neutrality and joined NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland, which shares a 1,340 km border with Russia, has maintained a high readiness level and announced plans for a 200 km security fence along the border. The fence, equipped with barbed wire, is expected to be completed by 2026.

Last year, Finland closed eight border crossing points with Russia after a migrant influx, which Helsinki described as a hybrid attack organized by Moscow.