Sweden is training to defend itself and its NATO partners

2024-05-24 19:30:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Sweden, NATO's newest member, announced this week a three-year plan to provide more than $7 billion in additional support to Ukraine. The decision comes amid concerns over Russia's growing aggression. Voice of America correspondent Myroslava Gongadze visited the Kvarn military base in Sweden.

At the Swedish army base, Kvarn, American and Swedish forces are developing their military skills in urban battles. During this exercise, American soldiers are simulating the liberation of a city occupied by the Russians, whose role is played by Swedish forces.

Johan Strom is a sergeant major in the Swedish armed forces and head of the Swedish Army's Combat Training Center for urban terrain operations in Kvarn. He says this training facility is one of the most technologically advanced in Europe, equipped with laser and video camera systems.

" The special thing about this facility is that every building is a player in our simulation system ," he says.

The facility was built 10 years ago to conduct training in a real combat environment. Mr Strom explains that Russia's war in Ukraine has prompted the Swedish military to intensify its training to increase its defense capabilities.

" The intensity of the war in Ukraine continues to increase since 2014 and there is an even greater sense of urgency in Europe, in the world, as well as in Sweden ," he adds.

Sweden has one of the most powerful military forces in the region. The commander of the military base in Kvarn, Lt. Col. Ola Sandberg, explains that his country has strengthened military troops for historical reasons. It emphasizes their constant efforts to train and prepare.

“ As a non-NATO country during the Cold War and a neutral country as well, Sweden needed to build a strong military capability, be able to defend itself and also have a large military-industrial complex where to support this force ".

Now as a NATO member country, Sweden will spend this year on defense more than 2 percent of its Gross Domestic Product. The aim is to strengthen NATO with significant naval and air capabilities, as well as to provide it with control over the Baltic Sea and access to the Arctic.

In addition to technological advantages, the Swedish military benefits from a gender-neutral recruitment system, which provides a wider pool from which soldiers and officers can be selected, says battalion commander Lt. Col. Liridona Dauti. About 4 million Swedes, almost an equal number of women, girls and men, aged 17 to 47, are considered suitable for military service.

" There is no difference between the sexes and this is actually the strength of the Swedish Defense Forces. It doesn't matter what gender a person is. What matters is what task he will choose ," she says.

The military woman, mother of three sons and expecting a fourth child, sees with concern the fact that the Russian attack on Ukraine has rapidly changed the security environment in Europe.

Liridona Dauti says her sons may have to join the army, but she and her country are doing everything they can today to make sure they don't have to fight in the future./ REL