Increased Russian risk-taking means that we must protect these logistics hubs, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) said at a press conference.
The Swedish air defense system is due to be in place in December. Just over 100 Swedish personnel will also be deployed, mainly from the air defense regiment in Halmstad.
If military and humanitarian support is to reach Ukraine, we must ensure that the border is secure, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) said.
I cannot emphasize enough how important this is.
Manageable risks
Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) emphasized that the Patriot system can intercept ballistic missiles, whose production Russia has reportedly greatly increased.
The government does not want to disclose how many firing units are involved. However, Sweden has only four firing units for its own defense.
Jonson said the Swedish Armed Forces assessed the risks to Sweden of sending air defense systems to Poland as "manageable".
Now we are allies and we are also part of NATO's integrated missile and missile defense, so that is the starting point for it, he says.
The Swedish operation will replace an ongoing Dutch operation, and the government's decision is valid until the end of the year. However, the plan is for the Swedish unit to remain in Poland until June.
The intention is to extend it for six months, provided that the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament) gives its consent, Jonson said.
Can defend us
Denmark's military intelligence service FE recently assessed that the possibility of Russia attempting to invade a NATO country could no longer be ruled out, although it was unlikely.
Finland's president has meanwhile played down such risks.
Kristersson said that Sweden and countries in the surrounding area are essentially making the same assessment, but choose to emphasize different things.
What we are seeing now are escalating attacks against Ukraine, more hybrid activities against other countries, and it cannot be ruled out that in such an escalation, Russia may want to try something that goes into other countries, says Kristersson.
He emphasized that Sweden's current caretaker government does not affect the country's ability to defend itself.
We will be fully capable of action, Kristersson said.
