Sweden: Defense Chiefs Make Controversial War Remarks

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Facts

  • Sweden's Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin and its military chief General Micael Byden have warned of a coming war within the context of the country's path to NATO ascension and tensions with Russia. The comments were also critiqued over concerns of alarmism.1
  • Referring to Sweden's aspirations to join NATO and amid the threat of Russian aggression, Bohlin urged Swedes last weekend to join voluntary defense organizations. He warned that Sweden's 210 years of peace could potentially come to an end.2
  • Cautioning against the danger of taking peace for granted as 'an immovable constant' and warning that the world's security outlook now was worse than any time since World War II, Bohlin said, 'There could be war in Sweden.'3
  • Agreeing with Bohlin, Gen. Byden urged Swedes to brace themselves mentally and said it was time to move 'from words and understanding to action.'4
  • On Monday, Defence Minister Pål Jonson said an attack on the country could 'not be ruled out.' Sweden last fought a war, albeit a brief one, in 1814 against Norway to establish its constitution and parliament.4
  • Sweden's opposition has characterized the warnings as alarmist and has prompted discussions about the characterization of the threat as well as the appropriateness of the comments.5

Sources: 1BBC News, 2LBC, 3Daily Mail, 4GB News and 5Outlookindia.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by www.euractiv.com. These dire comments reflect alarming rhetoric in an attempt to ramp up Sweden's military complex. Ratcheting up an irrational fear of Russia may help Sweden feel more important to NATO than it actually is. Such irresponsible comments cause angst and confusion domestically and are not helpful on the geopolitical stage, either. Sweden's military establishment should be more careful about how it conveys its threat assessments to the public.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Tortoise. The world didn't pay enough attention when Russia attacked Georgia and annexed Crimea. The same can be seen in the lead-up to the Ukraine war — Putin himself disingenuously dismissed the suggestion. Sweden's officials have learned the right lessons. Now may not be the Scandinavian nation's moment to gloat over 200 years of peace. These comments speak to the need for a responsible Swedish military posture in light of the path to NATO ascension and a growing threat from the Kremlin.

Predictions