No longer neutral waters: What Baltic Sea strategy for Sweden after NATO enlargement? • FRANCE 24

I greatly appreciate in depth discussions like this. Thank you France 24 for letting American's like me have real world news not just the next Trump disaster.

Hey Sweden welcome to NATO from your friends in Canada,glad to have you guys on the team.🇨🇦🤝🇸🇪

germany.. “You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.”
― Leon Trotsky

What a relief to know Sweden and Finland have added their strategic intelligence, strength and courage to NATO. As an American, I welcome this.

10 years ago I would not have been in favor of joining, but Russia have changed that. Born in the 70´s and grew up in the 80´sduring the last period of the Cold War. I hade Hope for peace when the CCCP fell apart, but lost it more and more with Putins Russia.

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I think what Swedes realised that Russians in case of new conflict simply would not respect Swedish neutrality and invade Gotland, because this island is crucial for Russians to isolate the Baltic states. Swedes would have to fight anyway - for Gotland or just give it up - something they are not willing to do.

11:37: William Alberque: _"Sweden has a myth about itself ..."_ Happenstance nobody in Sweden believe in this myth, and hasn't for a very long time. Sweden was essentially non-aligned, not neutral, and that non-alignment included some pretty well known agreements with USA. The non-alignment was just a necessity to support Finland that was coerced into neutrality by the Soviets.

There are 64 000 shelters that can house approximately 7 million people. I have 82 shelters within a 1 km radius where the closest one is 2 minutes walk away.

These young people are delightfully optimistic and positive about mandatory service.
This is needed in Canada.
Sweden may have been nonaligned for years but they would have never faced the Russians alone.
There would have been a Western uproar and violent reaction to Russian aggression against Sweden.

Well, done France 24 English to lightening out these very important areas to the viewers of the free world!

Like Gunilla said the 'normal' for sweden is to actually a have a big army and a lot of conscripts, and as a well integrated total-defence plan with the civil-socity. There is actually a law that every apartment with more then 3 floors has to have a saferoom for the public, this is still implemented today when we build new buildnings.

Swedes are smart!

The guy at 7:15 don't want to be a neighbor with American, who never had a war with Sweden in history, yet he's comfortable to be a neighbor with Russia, who had big wars with Sweden in history, and currently waging a massive war in Europe. Very interesting.

7:26 They managed to film the old cafe Ryska gården (Russian courtyard), now a tapas bar called Eden. It's amazing the old sign is still up.

The curse of having Russia as your neighbour...

A lot of the military footage they show in this video is showing the home guard not regular army. The home guard uses the ak4 (Heckler & Koch G3).

There is no greater peace activist than a soldier who has seen war.

Thank you.

Excellent reporting, thanks!

I don't think I heard that this was a special shortened form of The Debate. Is the new length now about 25 minutes? Love the show, by the way - it helps so much in understanding world events and politics - thank you!

Good reporting. Thank you.

What an interesting&informative vid. Thanx France24!

It is hard to describe Sweden as neutral during ww2 and the Cold war. In ww2 Sweden balanced between German and UK/US. During the Cold war there were secret treaties with US/UK about the nuclear umbrella protection and US bombers being allowed to fly over Sweden. In addition Sweden provided intelligence (or exchanged) to UK/US. And Sweden also had secret military agreements with Finland and planning. For instance Sweden kept a surplus of Draken fighter jets for Finland (that was not allowed to have more than a certain number of fighter jets). With the official NATO membership there is now a chance to really plan an efficient joint defense of the Nordic countries, including the Baltic Sea and the Arctic region. Our countries are quite similar and it must be possible to set up a better defense that relies less on external actors, such as US.

Good piece. On a side note, these conscripts are on the upper end of the bell curve- they have been selected to become ”company echelon command cadets”, which means they will become deputy platoon leaders and tank commanders. They performed well on all tests, especially the cognitice and psychological ones.

The peace movement in Sweden and the rest of Europe was heavily supported and infiltrated by Russia since the 80's. Just like they back in the 60's started to support the left movements, later they also turned to the Green as well and since the 90's they also supported the ultimate right wing and this all over Europe.
This is how Russia works, they support both fractions in society that fight each others because it causes turbulence in in the country and divide people and that is a win for Russia.
Sweden has also since both during the Cold War but also after been politically pressured by Russia and even as far as the now more regular threats with nuclear and military actions if Sweden does this or Sweden does that. Almost a yearly event was Russian test runs with nuclear strategic bomb planes doing a mock attack on Sweden and just turning right before entering Swedish airspace but also the incursions with naval ships/ submarines that's been going on since at least the 60's, So Russia has been picking on Sweden for as long as I have lived and tried to dictate Swedish politics and what or what not to do.
The neutrality ended in 1992 with a change in the Swedish doctrine when Sweden chose the non alignment, Sweden have basically been at war with Novgorod Republic/ Russia between 1164-1809 so there is not a lot of love for Russia among the majority and for sure not those that grew up during the Cold War era. However what best shows the Swedish none alignment doctrine back in 1992 is that in 1994 Sweden and also Finland joined NATO's PFP program and that changed the military as well, Swedish military training started to implement NATO structure and order systems. Then in 1995 Swedish troops was for the first time deployed under NATO command/ down to group and platoon level in Doboj.
Also notable is that Sweden have pretty deep ties with Ukraine that goes back to the 7th century with the Vikings/ Varangians/ Rus ( Rus/ Rus people/ Ruser comes from the part of Sweden where they Vikings traveling down to Kyiv from, a region called Roslagen South of Uppsala )
Then you have Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden, also known as Irene or Anna/ St. Anna that was the Princess of Kyiv 1035-1050. There are still a village in Southern Ukraine Kherson region with a Swedish name /Gammalsvenskby where people still speak Swedish and uphold Swedish traditions, so Sweden have a lot of different ties to Ukraine.
Finally.
What people in general miss and I do understand they do is that they see Russia as a country like any other Western or European country and that is the biggest mistake. Russian history will tell you everything about Russia, it has never ever in its history been a democratic country. Russia has always been a Serfdom and the mentality of the Russian people comes from their history and it's called social heritage. Russians do not think or act like Western people because their mindset is so rooted in generations of Serfdom and the will to reach success at any cost. Russia has shown time over time that they only language they understand is meeting force with bigger force.
I suggest that if anyone don't understand this last part, do study Russian history and if you want to know how the ruling class of Russia see their people, just read Russian military history and it will tell you anything you need to know. Then I also suggest to read about Social heritage to get a picture of what I talk about. Of course if you're Russian any discussion is unnecessary because you will never understand and as we all know, "Russian lips move they're either on OnlyFans or it's lies"

Great video report. Very interesting.

And what about Bornholm?

Both Sweden and Finland have been participating in NATO exercises and even some ops for decades.

For those who do not have a deeper knowledge of the conflict in Ukraine, it is recommended to watch Colonel Daniel Davis' YT channel when he interviews Jacques Baud who worked on a NATO mission in Ukraine for several years. There are at least 2 different interviews.
Jacques has worked in many different countries as he has extensive knowledge in several areas. Jacques has also worked for a few years on UN assignments.
Jacques goes back to the 1990s to today to explain events that affected the conflict.

14:33 ohhhh
He left out Denmark.
Look at the Danish island of Bornholms strategic position compared to Kaliningrad.
Also all the Nordic air forces have signed a treaty where they will work most more like one then just being part of NATO would do.

To Do or Not To Do, only each nation know best or not?

Thanks, FR 24.

To our Swedish friends, allies and partners ....Welcome to the Club. Welcome to NATO. We are far, far stronger with you, with Sweden helping to defend the North. Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

The former Koenigsburg is a post WW II exclave of the former Soviet Union, not an enclave.

European news is doing a great job helping relieve the aloofness Americans have about our allies. I wish I could tell you whats going to happen here with our elections. I'll be going all blue on my ticket but there are people here that live on an exclusive diet of OAN, newsmax, Tucker Carlson, & Christian nationalist podcasts.

very balanced discussion. Thanks.

Good unteresting talks 👍🇸🇪

Luxembourg and Switzerland, both neutral in 1940, one was strong, the other was not.

William Alberque made some good points on the Baltic Sea strategy plan, but he spoke way too fast and I can barely keep up with what he was saying. Strong NATO🤝

William Alberque has an impeccable taste in music, if I'm allowed to digress a bit

Sweden has not been neutral since 1940. In WW2 It supported Finland in the Winter War and allowed Nazi-German troops to pass through its territory. During the Cold War it flew reconnaissance missions for the US and had a secret assistance agreement with the US in case of war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. Sweden has supported Ukraine with military help since 2022.

Hello from Canada. I'm about 5:30 into the video, and I see that the Swedish young people are so beautiful, both boys and girls. I hope no harm comes to them.
I guess their immediate training will be to learn how to defend the main purpose of that island. The main purpose is likely to have various types of short to long range missiles to strike the enemy at sea anywhere around them, and to strike right into the heart of Russia if need be. These tanks and infantry people will need to protect the island from invasion, thus protecting the missiles, and the radar and tracking systems as well. This is just my best guess as I am not a military person.

neutrality is by strength , not by choices. if your small weak country security is in such threats against an overwhelming super powers , there should be compulsory military services, military spending should jump up to 4-5 % or even much much higher . unprepared for wars and wait for foreigners to fight for your war , is not a good strategy.

Is not Bornholm and Åland strategic?

This young generation at least has a little warning to prepare instead of waiting till an invasion occurs...so proud of the youths!

Putin wanting to "get the band back together" .... ok :D

Canada 🇨🇦 welcomes our new NATO members Finland and Sweden

I dont wanna go to war. I like my couch and my beer.

A high priority for the eu must be the coordination of armament manufacturing across the eu. The goal is to creating a manufacturing strategy based on the lessons learned from Ukraine to be able to manufacture arms at the consumption rate documented in Ukraine. Manufacturing must be fully redundant in two different countries with geographic diversity. They should have an inventory of at least 6 months. With this model they can meet their own needs while supporting countries like Ukraine.

i think 500 years since Treaty of Kalmar Unifying all three Scandinavian nations,

But I thought Putin invaded Ukraine because he didnt want NATO to border Russia....and now it does in Finland!

I am happy to see there are lots of youngsters willing to fight, and almost only old who does not understand that if attacked by Putin, the only way out is to fight.

Well, we have a huge ARMY if needed.
Every man and woman that hunts in the woods have lots of weapons, so that would be a guerilla warfare that would not end well for any agressor, Same is probably the same in finland.
I think i read somwhere that we have around 2 million hunting rifles just laying around, and we have orders that we shall never surrender no matter what happens or what we are told by propaganda.
Its like what people say, when the forests starts speaking Swedish or finish or any nordic language you should probably be worried, we have a lot of forests up here.

I hope or strategy for the Baltic will be the same even if we join Nato. That is to be the strongest navy in the area if we include our friends in Denmark and Finland. As before the war that makes us secured form any naval threats. Only real change I hope to see is that Danmark lets Sweden and Finland Take over the Baltic presence so they can focus fully on having a larger presence in the Norwegian Sea, North sea and arctic regions together with Norway and Canada.
That way we can use our resources better than we did before joining Nato

Not first time Sweden defends Gotland :)

bellorus should be red on the map

I love listening to the Swedes and Fins. They have a better understanding of Russia than most. I'm sooooo glad they are with us. Great addition to NATO.

Welcome to reality Swedish peacenicks! My sister too was a long-term pacifist but a belligerent Russia changed that. I hope Europe wakes up and quickly rebuilds their military.

Oh my God, they are just children ...

Russia has a poor navy and no experience using it.

To underestimate the Swedes is like underestimating the Vikings. Do it at your peril.

i want a Luxury Bunker for myself.

it's understandable statement. in a perfect world, no one should have to pick between NATO and Russia, but there are no sides in a nuclear war. Still would prefer peace

all of you in this video know s that Russian would never attack Sweden or Finland

Knut Stahle really has no clue of what is at stake here 😢
He may think he does though and it’s this nativity that makes people like him kinda adorable, but they seriously have to wake up now!

I want to congratulate France 24 for finding the only photo of Prime Minister Kristersson where he doesn't look like a 14year old intern at his first summer job.

Kaliningrad is Czech... It's called Královec...It was German, Polish, Russian..now it's our turn, 99% of people voted for annexation...😅

OK

I'm glad that Sweden protect gotland I pass on ferry from Poland to Sweden nice trip Smooth Sweden in NATO they should stay in Gotland 10 years straight with army without problem 300km from Kaliningrad to gotland Russia got crazy

The number of migrants willing to sign up for the Sweedish defence forces will be an interesting statistics that needs to be monitored over the coming decades.

That guy who didn't want American weapons near him should be glad they're there. Your sons will have the freedom not to join NATO as soldiers because of a strong defense.

We have been thinking it 60 years. Sence 1945

Good work , thank you . Understanding what the current Russian government is and Russians mindset of why they think and act as they do is important . But most important is Ukrainian victory in this war .

Good for you Sweden!

I'd say it's time to renegotiate Russian passage through the Danish straits.

Help Denmark stop dangerous unlawful russian oil transports through the straits NOW!

Here is my idea of how to end the Russia-Ukraine War in 1-2 years. First, Ukraine ought to mobilize one additional million soldiers, 500 thousand of which are dedicated to infantry soldiers for fighting in trenches, the rest is used for rotation of the frontline combat soldiers, and when the Ukrainian armed forces can retake all of the territory back including Crimea, then NATO can officially declare accepting Ukraine's expedited application for joining NATO Alliance. The Ratification should start right away shortly after so that NATO can move its troops into Ukraine to guard all of Ukraine's borders.

Mordor makes people come together

Mission creep. It’s only Putin pals that say that. It’s about time to name and shame.

Thank you for the show. Super dangerous and incredibly naive peace protesters, a gift to Putin's brutal regime and a notable danger to the freedoms of the democratic world. The same sort of campaigners that opposed rearmament during the 1930’s and who made it so much harder for countries to resist the invasions and takeovers of 1940.

Clovis Casall didnt grow up with bomb shelters in the cold war? How old is he?

8000 conscripts in 2024

Joining NATO definitely makes Sweden safe from external (Russian) threat, but it has to expeditiously deal with internal jihadi threat. This has been a self inflicted wound. Welcoming illegal immigration from Islamic countries was unwise in the extreme. It has put gentle Swedes in harms way. Urgent course correction is needed.

The reason they want militirisation is because they have never seen a war. But they are about to see it. People need to think about peace and love of their neighbour.

Bill Alberquercie is a turkey: Bow tie guy is totally useless

The Strategy is that no russian ships allowed on Baltic sea!!!

pacifist are to blame also, because tyrants only respect strength

Dont make another war...you know it.

It should be said that while being unaligned Sweden was everything but not a weapon or military free zone. Conscription being reintroduced is mostly the big change but everything military has been there all the time.

Turkey was promised F16 if they just allowed Sweden into NATO. How did that work out or was the USA once more let a small NATO country down?

Interesting video. Speaking of red lines. So if an F-16 flies from Poland to a Russian target in Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine, it is war against NATO. But if it lands at a Ukrainian air base on the way there....some officer might paint a Ukrainian flag on the plane. Gives a short speech. Dear F--16. You now belong to the Air Force of Ukraine. And then it flies on and bombs the same target, then everything would be A-ok?

Any new Russia-NATO conflict will not be conventional. It will be brief, and devastating to both sides.

We need more blonde models in the military!

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As a Swede I am deeply depressed because stupid decisions of our politicians are irreversible.

It is all because of Putin. It is not because of NATO expansion😂😂😂
Some people actually believe you. How sad

God bless Sweden and Finland. Welcome to NATO.

The Baltic Sea is a NATO sea!

I'm surprised they wanted to join now, on what could be the eve of the shortest, but most devastating war in history. A noble gesture, considering they only have conventional weapons.