tbh, Sweden doesn't need to rush. Finland had to, given the location. But the only one who could sensibly attack Sweden right now without ratling NATO would be NATO.
Our defence has historically been coordinated to a high degree with Finland, and with only one of us in NATO it makes this coordination more difficult. So, in some ways, we are worse off than before the process started.
As it is now, Sweden is generally not worried about a land invasion. The danger is how exposed we are from the baltic.
A large part of why we want in is for continued solidarity and support of Finland. It is much better for Finland if we are in than if we are not.
As an American with a Swedish wife, if anything serious happens in the baltic, I think you can safely expect Virginia-class subs to start sprouting like dandelions.
Sweden isn't in NATO, but neither is New Zealand, and if China started sending boats for unfriendly visits I'm pretty sure we'd tool up and say "What's all this then?!"
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In Sweden we are so ashamed of our politicians trying to meet every demand Turkey makes. NATO is not worth it for dropping support for the Kurds.
tbh, Sweden doesn't need to rush. Finland had to, given the location. But the only one who could sensibly attack Sweden right now without ratling NATO would be NATO.
Russia still has a harbor in the Baltic ocean but they're in no position to do anything to Sweden att this point.
The reason we're rushing is because the government wants to look capable but it's not working out at all for them.
SwedishEuropean government do anything [challenge]: impossible!Then again I'm from the US when you can count on the government doing something stupid or evil every day. Unless they forget.
A couple of things.
As an American with a Swedish wife, if anything serious happens in the baltic, I think you can safely expect Virginia-class subs to start sprouting like dandelions.
Sweden isn't in NATO, but neither is New Zealand, and if China started sending boats for unfriendly visits I'm pretty sure we'd tool up and say "What's all this then?!"
You’re right, New Zealand isn’t in NATO, it’s in the ANZUS treaty, that’s why y’all would tool up.
Yes. Gotland, specifically. It is considered strategic.
The USN didn't understand Gotland until recently, we've been doing drills in the area now, we took a second but we figured it out.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2022/06/12/swedish-us-troops-drill-on-remilitarized-baltic-sea-island/
We're not malicious or uncaring, just... kind of slow.