As a result of Russia’s mobilization at the Ukrainian border and the tense security situation in Europe, Swedish defense authorities are stepping up their presence on the Baltic island of Gotland.
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On Friday night, a large American transport plane landed in Visby on Gotland. There were more than 100 Swedish soldiers on board, writes Swedish Today’s News.
Members of the Swedish Armed Forces’ emergency response force, also known as the operational contingency unit, have now been sent to the island.
The defense force coming from Norrbotten will mark that Gotland will be defended, the newspaper writes.
It will be the rapidly deteriorating security situation for Europe on Friday, which has led to Sweden stepping up its visible military presence on Gotland.
In addition to the soldiers, several military vehicles have also been transported to the island, photos show.
The Swedish defense has largely been quiet about the transfer of soldiers.
–But the Swedish Armed Forces’ chief of operations, Michael Claesson, has spoken out Swedens radio:
– It is important to be visible and to stand out. I believe this should not be seen as particularly dramatic, but as an obvious adaptation of our measures in connection with what is happening in the world.
Already on Thursday, you could see Swedish soldiers patrolling the streets, NTB wrote then.
On the night before Wednesday, three Russian landing craft sailed into the Baltic Sea. Swedish forces monitored their journey from fighter jets that were sent out.
Claesson said on Thursday that the incident helps to influence the situation, but that it is an overall picture that makes the soldiers now patrol the streets.
He also believed that the Russian voyage in the Baltic Sea should not be exaggerated.
– We are present in several parts of the country and not just on Gotland. On the other hand, it is clear that people will notice that there are more military personnel than normal on Gotland. But you are probably used to that, and we have a good relationship with the locals, he said then.
Read more about the conflict between Russia and the West here.
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