Sweden issues warning to 'brace for war' as defence minister urges citizens to 'move'

Carl-Oskar Bohlin spoke at the Folk och Forsvar (Society and Defence) conference in Salen yesterday, citing his concerns over the slow progression of Sweden’s defence system.

“Many have said it before me, but let me say it with the force of my office – there could be a war in Sweden,” he said.

“For a nation for whom peace has been a pleasant companion for almost 210 years, the idea that it is an immovable constant is conveniently close at hand. But taking comfort in this conclusion has become more dangerous than it has been for a very long time,” Bohlin said.

If approved by Turkey and Hungary, Sweden is expected to join Nato by July.

Sweden was last involved in an armed conflict in 1814 when it fought against Norway briefly to establish its own constitution and parliament.

They remained neutral in World War Two.

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Joining the military alliance would offer Sweden additional security, as concerns about Russia invading European states grow.

“Are you a private individual? Have you considered whether you have time to join a voluntary defence organisation? If not: get moving!”, Bohlin declared to conference attendees.

He drew comparisons with Ukraine, praising their “societal resilience” and said that if Sweden were to mobilise, it would require widespread awareness of the ongoing war in Eastern Europe.

“Putin didn't understand that he was kicking down that door within every Ukrainian in 2014. By the time of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the Ukrainian people had – individually and collectively – been formulating their response...

“The Russian attacking forces faced the unified force of the entire Ukrainian society. This kind of effort can only come about quickly enough if the vast majority are aware of the situation and understand what is at stake.

“Societal resilience requires exactly that: situational awareness... Awareness must be translated into practical action. Measures that actually raise the threshold.

“Everyone has to understand that in the situation we find ourselves in, time may be our most precious non-renewable resource. If there is one thing that keeps me awake at night, it is the feeling that things are moving too slowly,” he said.

In agreement with Bohlin, Commander-in-Chief Micael Byden repeated the significance of the situation, urging individuals to brace themselves mentally.

“This is a very serious situation, and the clarity yesterday was unmistakable. It is now about moving from words and understanding to action,” warned Byden.

The warning comes after Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson issued a similar statement on Monday. He argued that current conflicts showed that “the world has become more dangerous than it was just a year ago”.

“An armed attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out,” Jonson said.