Sweden shows military presence after Russia’s Baltic activities

aIn the face of increased “Russian activities” in the Baltic Sea, Sweden sent several armored vehicles to the streets of the island of Gotland and soldiers patrolled them. On Friday, the military said about a dozen armored fighting vehicles and dozens of soldiers were in the small town of Visby. A few days ago, three ships of the Russian Navy entered the Baltic Sea through the strait of the Great Belt in Denmark.

“The armed forces are taking the necessary measures to protect the integrity of Sweden and to demonstrate our ability to protect Sweden and Swedish interests,” Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist said. Agence France-Presse with.

Hultqvist told news agency TT that the increase in patrols in Gotland was a sign that Sweden was taking the situation seriously and “would not be surprised”. The military said Thursday evening that the units would be deployed to “enhance operations in multiple locations” while “increasing Russian activities in the Baltic Sea.”

But the Swedish Armed Forces’ chief of operations, Michael Claesson, denied this was a targeted Swedish “show of strength”. He told AFP that the units were part of the force already stationed on the island. It is a “natural way to adjust the military presence.”