In one of Sweden’s most dramatic steps since the end of the Cold War, it has brought back the option of using reservists to boost its military force, making no attempt to hide the fact that the main motivation behind the move is Russia.
Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist went on TV this week to argue the move was necessary against the backdrop of Russia’s rearmament and its annexation of Crimea, as well as the Ukrainian conflict.
The decision also came just two months after Sweden got a rough wake-up call in the form of a lengthy but ultimately futile submarine hunt in the Stockholm archipelago.
Although no Swedish official ever identified the nationality of the elusive mini-sub, it was widely believed to be Russian.
In September, Sweden also lodged a protest with Moscow after the incursion of two Russian fighter planes into the Nordic country’s airspace.
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