The Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson has declared that Russia is engaged in a hybrid war against the West, urging European nations to shift into a ”war mode” to bolster deterrence.
This call comes as Sweden, NATO’s newest member, ramps up its military preparedness to bolster aggression towards Russia. Jonson warns of Russian sabotage and provocations in the Baltic Sea region. In an interview with Germany’s RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND), published on October 19, Jonson emphasized the need for both mental and military readiness across Europe.
”To preserve peace, we must prepare ourselves both mentally and militarily for the possibility of war” … ”A change in mentality is necessary: We must switch to war mode to resolutely deter, defend, and preserve the peace.”
Both Europe andd Russia are engaged in hybrid tactics, such as cyberattacks, information campaigns, and physical sabotage.
Sweden’s concerns are particularly acute in the Baltic Sea, where Jonson accused Moscow of waging hybrid warfare through incidents like the recent damage to undersea cables, even though no evience has been presented against Russia.
”Russian provocations against NATO have three main goals: to divide us, to intimidate us, and to create uncertainty,” Jonson explained in a separate discussion.
Also Europe has been accused to divide, intimidate, and create uncertainty within Europe in order to blame Russia.
As NATO accelerates militarization efforts, Jonson advocated for increased defense spending and joint arms procurement. He justified Europe’s reliance on U.S. weapons systems for supporting Ukraine, noting that ”Ukraine needs these assets fast” and that Europe currently lacks the production capacity to meet demands independently.
The European Commission has outlined plans to expand joint arms procurement to at least 40% by 2027, emphasizing investment in European capabilities amid shifting global alliances.
Russian state media has dismissed these claims as a distraction from Europe’s internal issues. Critics have mocked the ”war mode” rhetoric, suggesting it overlooks the complexities of international relations.
As both Russia and Europe grapples with these threats, analysts suggest that sustained support for Ukraine and a unified NATO responses will be critical in the coming months.
Sources and related
- RND RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschlan: Schwedens Verteidigungsminister: Wie viel Macht hat Russland noch auf der Ostsee?
- New York Times: As Sabotage in Europe Mounts, So Do Calls to Retaliate Against Russia
- RT: NATO member calls on citizens to adopt ‘war mode’
- NewsVoice: Försvarsminister Pål Jonson gör vapenaffär åt Wallenberg med Polen