Swedish Chief of Defence warns Moscow could carry out Baltic Sea ‘land grab’ at any time to test NATO’s resolve as military intelligence says Russia capable of war expansion
Michael Claesson(Image: Getty)
Sweden is bracing itself for a potential Russian operation to seize the island of Gotland, according to the country’s military chief.
Swedish Chief of Defence Michael Claesson warned that Moscow could execute a land grab “at any time” in order to put NATO’s determination to the test.
“It doesn’t have to be particularly extensive at all, but more to make a point and wait to see what might happen politically,” Claesson said.
NATO military exercises have traditionally centred on a potential Russian land assault along the alliance’s eastern flank, however focus is now turning towards the Baltic Sea.
War games have simulated possible Russian landings on strategically vital islands such as Gotland in Sweden, Bornholm in Denmark, and Hiiumaa and Saaremaa in Estonia.
Swedish military intelligence has cautioned that Russia is capable of broadening its conflict in the years ahead.
They further warn that any resolution to the Russian war could enable Putin to redeploy troops closer to NATO territory.
It follows US President Donald Trump repeatedly rounding on NATO allies over what he regards as insufficient backing for the Iran war. Most recently, at a Turning Point event in Arizona on Friday, 17 April, Trump delivered a keynote speech in which he declared that his country must depend on itself.
Trump said: “If NATO teaches us any one thing, and I hope you all watched because they weren’t there for us, if it teaches us any one thing: we have to rely on ourselves.
“We can’t rely on outside countries and outside sources.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned a US decision to extend the period during which Russia is allowed to sell oil despite Western sanctions.
The move means countries can purchase Russian oil and petroleum products already loaded on vessels at sea until 16 May.
The US argues that the waiver is meant to ease the energy supply crunch sparked by the US-Israel war with Iran.
But in his remarks on Sunday, Zelensky said “every dollar paid for Russian oil is money for the war” in Ukraine. Widespread sanctions have been in place against Russia since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.
