Sweden Brings Back The Draft, Alarmed By Russian Activities

[sjoes006]

Amid escalating anxieties over recent Russian activities, Sweden has approved a plan to reinstitute military conscription beginning next year. The draft, which will pull from both young men and women, will be Sweden's first since 2010, when the country discontinued compulsory service.

The government says it has been recruiting about 2,500 people for military service annually, about 1,500 fewer than it says it needs.

"We have had difficulties manning the military units voluntarily, and that needs to be addressed somehow," Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish Radio, according to Bloomberg. "That's why it's necessary to reintroduce compulsory military service."

Trump Says, 'Look What's Happening In Sweden.' Sweden Asks, 'Wait, What?'
THE TWO-WAY
Trump Says, 'Look What's Happening In Sweden.' Sweden Asks, 'Wait, What?'

But Hultqvist also tells Reuters there's another reason for concern in Sweden, which as a nominally neutral party in the Cold War never joined NATO.

"We have a Russian annexation of Crimea, we have the aggression in Ukraine, we have more exercise activities in our neighborhood. So we have decided to build a stronger national defense," Hultqvist told Reuters. "The decision to activate conscription is part of that."

It is part of a reversal already underway in Sweden's defense policy. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that Sweden had been scaling back its defense spending, from 2.5 percent of its GDP at the end of the Cold War in 1991, to just 1.1 percent in 2015.

But last year, the country moved to garrison troops permanently on the large island of Gotland, where it could better keep tabs on doings in the Baltic Sea off Sweden's east coast.

[BlueCoyote]

I generally find conscription much better than voluntary armies for a number of reasons. One of these reasons is that voluntary armies tend to cause problems because not enough people want to join it (this isn't a uniquely Swedish issue, Germany and France are dealing with the same thing). So even if we forget about Russia for a moment, the move back to conscription makes sense. In the US, where you have a huge class of poor people without any career options and life perspectives, a voluntary army can work. In Sweden, where everyone tends to be well-off and well educated, young people are simply too much informed to voluntarily join the army. Surely there is a case to be made for national defense but it is unfortunately also true that we millennials have grown up witnessing countless unnecessary wars where young men and women were mainly used as cannon fodder.

Now, regarding Russia: I don't know how worried Swedes are but personally, I am very worried about Russia. Historically, eastern Europe is one of the most fought over regions on the planet. If you played the territorial changes in Europe and Russia during the past 1,000 years in high speed, you would be able to see how both of these powers tried to occupy as much of the other power's lands as possible. At some points, western Europe made it to the gates of Moscow, other times, Russia made it all the way to mid-Germany. Famous historians believe that this struggle for power is a result of the geographic and geo-strategic nature of the continent and will continue until one power finally wins. It is difficult to imagine that Europe and Russia will ever become good friends.
This problem is enhanced by the fact that Russia is currently ruled by an imperialistic, right-nationalist dictator who has a history of invading other countries and occupying foreign lands. There is no reason why Estonia or Latvia shouldn't be the next ones on the list. And maybe now with the orange monkey in the White House and China busy buying up the world, maybe Putin is thinking nobody would notice some war games on his part. So yes, I personally I do worry about Russia. Even more so when I think about how blindly and unquestioningly Russia follow their dear leader. The whole country is almost like a religious cult.

[Izumiblu]

I question the motive of the announcment, the timing of it. I tend to think this is a matter of little consequence and simply a necessary but unpopular move and that the Russian activities make a good political environment for the current political apparatus of Sweden to make that move. Sweden has nothing of real value to the Russians that overrides their value as a neutral nation. Finland and Russia share a disputed border, but that is not a concern for the Swedes as they wouldn't move on that issue regardless what Russia does. If Russia chose to act directly against Sweden their draft is of zero consequence. Sweden will be wholly reliant on Finland and NATO. There may be some internal political consequences that Sweden is trying to manage here, but i dont keep track of them so i dont know.

[sjoes006]

I understand your POV and respect it coming from your background. However I've been watching the subtle aggressions in the Baltic since around early 2014.

I too at first thought, come on they don't even share a border years ago when I became aware of the subtle slow and tiny moves Putin was testing.

They were uneasy but somewhat reassured by NATO and the Obama admin that there was a line in the sand. Now there is no line in the sand. The US is laissez-faire and Europe is such a mess boff it doesn't matter. France is the next state to collapse inward.

As far as American politics go to each his own. But no matter which side you find yourself on domestically it is important to understand the realities globally as no nation actually can insulate itself anymore unless you are very small and inconsequential.

Countries like Sweden who remain mostly neutral benefit from world powers checking each other. Once that balance is out of alignment they are on the table.

[sjoes006]

Not the whole country though. Putin only wants their island. This is how he is securing his borders by taking only fractions of opposed states assuring they can't form other international alliances.

[Izumiblu]

We're pretty much saying the same thing. im just pointing out that their draft is irrelevant. If Putin decides he wants to move against them it's irrelevant. I'd be laughing at them if I were in Putin's shoes. The only thing tht would stop Russia is NATO, but id look for Putin to make a choice up front between the Finland border and the Island, he will pressure both and choose one. The Island is of lesser value to Russia and they won't move on it. Unfortunately, we have a precedent set with Ukraine and that makes the next challenge more dangerous.

When it comes right down to it, the geopolitics matter, the draft matters not. In a world where we are discussing military action for an ICBM launch from north korea, a resurgent Iran, a china pressuring the South and East China seas and Russia pressing in many directions following years of complacency the Trump administration needs to get their shit together fast.

[jacquesvol]

Ever since the 18th century Russia wants free access for its Saint Petersburg port. Just look at the map:

bigcoast.ca/.../baltic-sea-map-europe-i12.gif

[jacquesvol]

Maps explain why geopolitics matter

[Hans222]

If I'd be the leader of a country that was a neighbor of Putin-land I'd also take my precautions :o
Just like the Swedish I don't trust the guys at all. I hope he doesn't have Hitler-like plans in his back pocket but I'm afraid he does :-(
He's the type of guy who will take something whenever he likes it and is convinced he can get it.

[sjoes006]

Then say it has always been his. Him and Trump what a pair.

[Hans222]

Maybe they have a secret plan to take some "IS-land" in Iraq and Syria and divide it 50/50... where of course they'll have some riots about who'll have 51% and feel more important 8) 8)

[OlderAndWiser]

I understand why Sweden believes it needs to take action and it is a sad commentary on these times. Mr. Putin is an aggressive bully and the world will be a better place when he is no longer in power.

[sjoes006]

I've been concerned about the Baltic for years. I almost can't blame Trump because he's not experienced at all on any world issues. But then he refuses any counsel including that of the state department. We're a headless state.

5 men cannot run the entirety of the US machine and for the US to abandon our allies is simply deplorable. We're ramping up defense but only for the US.

Anyone that thinks long game. knows protecting Europe isnprotectig the US. I'm with him and Obama that NATO needs to get serious and put some skin in the game. Obama pressed this on any foreign action that we wouldn't go without their support.

But when you have a state such as Sweden that was surviving under balance of power and is now abandoned by most international backing it's concerning.

I'm old school. I still believe in the Genevea Convention which protects the rights of noncombatants.

[Blitzkrieger]

So much for a feminist government being more peaceful than a normal one. Fucking feminists. Of course they need compulsory conscription, their people aren't by far nationalist enough to join themselves. We all know women aren't put in combat roles either so it all comes down to the compulsory sacrifice of young men's lives.

[coolbreeze]

We have to wait and see how all of this will turn out when the smoke, settles and clears.

[wankiam]

alarm or alarmist... it seems your leaders are resorting to using project fear now too.

[sjoes006]

Leader.

[Waffles731]

Sweden actually has a serious military industrial complex, the third largest export of arms in the world.
I'd wonder if this actually tied to that

[Waffles731]

the fact is that finland is between them and the russians are actually afraid of the finns so...

[sjoes006]

No it's to do with the islands in the Baltic Sea. The issue started in 2014 Russia tried to make claim to a Finnish island connected to Finald by bridge. 'It's always been Russia'.

Finland does not protect Scandinavia from seaward attacks and given the odd political climate in the Us with Russia they are bracing themselves. Never a memeber of NATO and preferring to stay neutral they always benefited from then yin yang of powers.

Sweden isn't Switzerland. They are neutral but without a balance of world power they are in a right spot. France is crumbling. No one is going to come to their side. No one.

[Waffles731]

I guess your right but Swedens dirty secret is that their arms industry is absolutely massive,
They provide everything from U. S naval Artillery to Assault Rifles for African and central American dictators

[jacquesvol]

@Waffles731
A secret? economictimes.indiatimes.com/.../56766584.cms
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_scandal

[legalboxers]

the "bang the drum" mentality has been started. There was a majority of peace all over with exception to certain parts of the world. Now the boogie man is crying wolf where there is no need for someone to cry wolf.

[SnowHearth]

The only reason Russians would invade Sweden would be to get some cute Swedish girls.
Oh, wait! Maybe that's the real reason they're scared.

[jacquesvol]

Sweden and Russia have no common border.
But draft is a way to get lower unemployment stats.

[sjoes006]

They're concerned for the Baltic Island

[jacquesvol]

Look at the map I posted higher.