Sweden declares readiness to use force against Russian aircraft in case of border violations
Amid escalating tensions in the Baltic region, Sweden made a significant statement regarding its defense policy.
The country’s Minister of Defense, Peter Johansson, emphasized that Swedish military forces reserve the full right and obligation to defend their airspace by any means necessary, including the use of weapons if required.
This statement comes in response to a rising number of incidents involving Russian military aircraft crossing or violating Swedish airspace.
Last week, Estonia reported a breach of its airspace by a Russian plane, prompting NATO to scramble fighters for identification and escort.
Similar violations have been recorded over Swedish skies in recent years.
On September 22, alerts were raised in Stockholm due to unknown drones observed in the skies over Copenhagen and Oslo.
The Swedish military reaffirmed their readiness to respond to any threats, especially following the country’s recent accession to NATO.
Furthermore, on September 22, Sweden and Poland launched joint military exercises called Gotland Sentry aimed at strengthening defense, deterrence, and security in the Baltic region.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump expressed concern about the Russian aircraft violations in Estonia, stating that he ‘did not like it’ and feared these incidents could lead to serious regional repercussions.