Russia has in less than two weeks with drones and fighter jets violated Nato's airspace on three occasions, and the reactions against Moscow have become sharper.
Poland's president Donald Tusk has said that they will shoot down objects that violate the country's airspace. Lithuania's defense minister Dovile Sakaliene has urged Nato to remember that Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet, which despite repeated warnings continued its route into Turkish airspace.
The UK's foreign minister Yvette Cooper has in connection with the violations pointed out that the country's army and Nato's forces are ready for armed confrontation with Russia.
Ready to defend Sweden
Where does Sweden stand then?
We stand in full solidarity now with these countries that have been subjected to these violations and we naturally stand ready to defend all our allies, says defense minister Pål Jonson.
Is Sweden ready to shoot down a Russian plane if it violates Swedish airspace?
It is the Defense Forces that decide in each given situation how such an incident is handled. They have the legislation required if they would assess that it is necessary to protect Sweden.
”Build up”
He means that Nato is armed for an armed conflict with Russia.
Russia is powerfully weakened in that their ground forces are tied up in and around Ukraine right now so they do not have the security policy freedom of action in the land domain right now.
On the other hand, they are gradually developing their ability for long-range combat, cyber warfare and unmanned systems and they have also invested quite a bit in their defense industrial capability.
He means that Nato should take the opportunity to strengthen its eastern border while Russia is occupied in Ukraine.
It is important that we build up and intensify the buildup of our own defense but also that we strengthen the outer front. Now there are opportunities to reinforce the military presence along all our allies' territories that lie furthest east.
