Sweden’s Defense Minister: “The Baltic Sea Has Become a Frontline”

The Baltic Sea, once a quiet trade route, has turned into one of Europe’s most volatile security zones — and Sweden is at its center. Russian submarines lurk beneath the surface, GPS signals are being jammed, undersea cables have been sabotaged, and a so-called shadow fleet of tankers moves in defiance of sanctions.

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson says this is no coincidence.
“The dynamics in the Baltic have changed dramatically,” he tells RND. “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine — and against the West — has made the Baltic Sea the frontline of hybrid warfare. What happens here is part of Russia’s wider war effort.”

More than 60 percent of Russian trade now moves through these waters, turning the Baltic into a strategic chokepoint for Moscow. “The growing shadow fleet shows how dependent Russia has become on this corridor,” Jonson adds.

In the same interview, the minister delivers a blunt message to Europe: peace can no longer be treated as a given:
“To maintain peace, we must adopt a war footing,” he says. “That means preparing mentally and militarily for potential conflict. Deterrence is the price of peace.”

Public opinion in Sweden appears to agree. Around 90 percent of Swedes support continued or increased aid to Ukraine, and most favor raising defense spending. “People understand that peace is something we defend every day,” Jonson notes.

Sweden is acting accordingly. The government has begun stockpiling grain in four northern regions critical for food security in case of crisis and recently approved a new humanitarian aid package for Ukraine worth over 1.1 billion kronor — roughly €116 million.

From Stockholm to Brussels, the message is clear: Sweden may be at peace, but it is no longer at ease. Read more here.