Sweden bolsters NATO's Baltic presence, warns of Russian threat
12:02 PM EDT, April 2, 2024
With Sweden joining NATO, nine out of the ninety countries with direct access to the Baltic Sea are now part of the Alliance. Ahlqvist pointed out that “allies cannot afford to lose vigilance. As the tenth country with Baltic access, Russia continues to be a significant threat.”
He acknowledged that the Russians display "relative caution" in Baltic Sea activities. However, he highlighted the regularity of the Russian navy's exercises, including those involving submarines.
"The Russians are well-prepared. They have modern technology and sophisticated systems. Thus, as members of NATO, we must also continually evolve and keep a close watch on their activities," Ahlqvist stated, noting Russia's proficiency and substantial personnel.
Sweden warns against Russia
The Baltic Sea, known for its shallow depths and challenging navigation, also harbors over 50,000 unexploded ordnances and sea mines from World War II. Ahlqvist underscored the importance of knowing their exact locations during exercises or operations due to their potential dangers.
He also mentioned the sea's salinity's impact on submarines' detectability, highlighting Sweden's significant contribution to NATO: extensive knowledge of the Baltic Sea.