XPost: alt.defense, alt.politics, alt.politics.eu
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/17/the-tiny-swedish-island-regiment-tasked-protecting-europe/
As an army helicopter buzzes overhead, Tomas Ängshammar points
proudly at the sleek barracks of the Swedish armed forces’
newest regiment: P18 Gotland.
The Scandinavian building is clad in muted pinewood and looks
more like a modernist hotel than a military headquarters.
“It has room for 240 conscripts,” says Mr Ängshammar, the
regiment’s communications director, “but from August this
year, it [will be] too small because we’re going to have
300 conscripts.
“So we’re building a second barracks behind this one and
we’re planning for a third.”
The rapid military build-up on Gotland Island is a testament
to just how seriously the Swedish government is taking the
risk that Russia once again poses – both to Sweden and
northern Europe more broadly.
. . .
It's job is to be In The Way should Russian forces
push towards Sweden.
The base was smaller during the cold war, then
abandoned.
NOW it's buzzing again.
The nordic countries are taking Russia SERIOUSLY
and putting a lot of money and effort into making
themselves into proverbial porcupines - more pain
than gain for Russia.
Finland is especially freaked because it has a long
border with Russia, has fought it in the past, and
has fewer people to defend it. Russia is now building
up numerous smallish bases just across the border
which is increasing the paranoia level. Doesn't
look big enough to be an invasion force though ...
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