After being demilitarized in 2005, Sweden re-introduced permanent troops to Gotland in 2016, following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Sweden also became NATO’s newest member in March — meaning it is covered by the alliance’s Article 5 guarantee that all other members come to each other’s defense if they are attacked.
How the fuck is Putin supposed to take Gotland? Is the Russian Baltic fleet supposed to sail out of Saint Petersburg, pass within 50km of either Talinn or Helsinki without getting every single anti-ship missile in NATO launched at them and land every soldier they can cram into it’s (on paper quite decent landing craft) and conquer one cement factory that I promise will never work again, and some wild horses and rose bushes?
Russia can barely supply it’s troops by train against a nation without a real Airforce. How are they supposed to hold an island against inside lake NATO against a country with 2 fighter wings in easy bombing distance, and at least something of a navy?
On the other hand, the fact that they’re doomed to fail doesn’t mean they won’t try, so I can’t fault Sweden for getting some troops out there. There are probably worse posts than Gotland too.
What he is saying is that Gotland is extremely strategically important to Russia(and Sweden/NATO). It is also an island with 50k population, basically deserted, which can be used as an excuse(would countries be willing to go to WW3 over such an island?). An island that Sweden demilitarised in the past.
If Russia wants to fuck with the Baltic States(high probability, especially if things go well for them in Ukraine), Gotland will be part of that plan. Russia wants to deploy anti-air missile systems there that would enable them to air blockade the Baltic States.
This messaging is essential in order to signal to the world that a threat exists so if shit goes down, the world(NATO allies) will be mentally prepared to be involved.
It is “very easy” for Russia(or many countries who dont care about diplomatic fallout) to create a fait accompli and conquer small stuff. And then it is up to the morale of your country and your allies, to see if they have the will to fight back, like Ukraine did for example.
You may be forgetting that Kaliningrad is another Russian harbor in close proximity. Don’t know if there’s any credence to assertion that Gotland is in danger, but just saying.
The japanese generals were from the very beginning sure Pearl Harbour was hopeless, but they had few to lose and very much to gain considering the world was against them.
Die conquering of starve to death.
Here’s his justification, so he doesn’t have to make one up out of thin air:
On 22 April 1808, during the Finnish War between Sweden and Russia, a Russian army landed on the southeastern shores of Gotland near Grötlingbo. Under command of Nikolai Andreevich Bodisko 1,800 Russians took the city of Visby without any combat or engagement, and occupied the island. A Swedish naval force rescue expedition was sent from Karlskrona under the command of admiral Rudolf Cederström with 2,000 men; the island was liberated and the Russians capitulated. Russian forces left the island on 18 May 1808.
So, you see, it was Russian territory for almost a month.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotland#Early_modern_period
Its position in the middle of the Baltic Sea and more or less off the coast of Kaliningrad would make it an excellent military outpost from which to control shipping and spy on their neighbors.
This quote is out of context. The chief said “I am sure he has his eye on it” not “he does have his eye on it”
Their invasion of Snake Island went so well for them, I guess they’re looking for a repeat
By some accounts, Russia would need to take Gotland before they could besiege the Baltic States. Though that doesn’t mean they’d have a good chance of succeeding.
The Chinese shenanigans are giving them ideas.
Their knowledge of history must be poor if they think that the US can’t fight on two fronts
Their knowledge of current events are pretty spot on as they already control half the political power of the US.
Now we face the endless question: is this a real threat or does Sweden’s military want more funding? I genuinely do not know.
If you’re a General, you wouldn’t miss this chance to ask for new toys.
I am far from persuaded that Russia is motivated to attack a NATO member, despite what the News media would have you believe.
Given Putin’s long history of violating Swedish airspace over Gotland, I feel like the statement has at least some amount of credibility.
In fact, I would not be surprised if that is a large part of why public sentiment finally swayed in favour of NATO in Sweden after so many years of public sentiment being against the prospect.
So he’s distracted… 😏
Putin needs to speed up. He’s 72 years old, Stalin was 74 when he died. And Putins idol Stalin was left alone after his last meeting, he had a stroke and no1 dared to disturb him fearing deportation or getting killed. History rhymes, right?
I kinda hope they try. Starting a second war while already waist-deep in Ukraine would be quite the thing, and the Baltic fleet will go the way of the Black Sea’s.
This is not a video game.
You’re right, in the video game the Russian Navy would actually be a threat. All 3 of those nations are NATO members now. My biggest concern is if there’s enough concrete to repave St Petersburg…
Then why is Putin considering this? Perhaps he’s the one who played too much C&C. This would definitively end Russia’s imperial ambitions, which is why I think it wouldn’t be a bad thing, on balance.
ETA: it would also be better for Russia to try this nonsense while they’re still embroiled in Ukraine. Giving them time to regroup would only draw this out and make the outcome worse.
Correct, which is all the more reason Russia really really shouldn’t try it.
Who does the island belong to? Wouldn’t Russian invasion be akin to an act of war?
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Depends on how Sweden reacts to Russian troops on the island. If they react weakly, Russia would take advantage of it. Probably Russia isn’t that dumb to fuck around and find out though…
Sweden has a tripwire force on the island, as of shortly after the invasion of Crimea. Within hours, it would be joined by larger forces from the mainland, and quite possibly from NATO allies such as Poland and Finland. The Russians would have a considerably worse time than in Ukraine.
Sweden has a tripwire force on the island
You get assigned there if you really piss someone off.
If everything is going normally, it’s a fairly easy posting on a picturesque island best known for holidays. If the shit hits the fan, your death will be a heroic one.
If the shit hits the fan, your death will be a heroic one.
Well they are descendents of Vikings
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has his eyes on the Swedish island of Gotland, warned Sweden’s defense chief Micael Bydén.
The Russian defense ministry announced a plan Tuesday to expand the country’s territorial waters in the Baltic Sea near its maritime border with Lithuania and Finland, sparking international concern.
Putin’s goal is to gain control of the Baltic Sea,” Bydén, Sweden’s supreme commander of the armed forces, told newspapers of the German editorial network RND.
Russian shadow tankers have been a recent presence in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone off of Gotland’s eastern coast.
Last month, Sweden said the European Commission would look into ways to deal with Russia’s shadow oil fleet in its next package of sanctions.
After being demilitarized in 2005, Sweden re-introduced permanent troops to Gotland in 2016, following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
The original article contains 325 words, the summary contains 138 words. Saved 58%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
We all saw how well Ukraine’s limited military operation went.
Russia trying to lose all their boats and subs as well as all their old tanks?
You know, he always seems to eye all these places that look so peaceful. Can he eye the parts of Mexico that are riddled with violent cartels? Here is how I view it: Everyone wants their own a private toll road in the middle of a scenic tourist destination, no one wants to adopt a busy, littered, highway in the middle of Los Angeles. Let’s see “mother Russia” try to “mother” that fiasco.
