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Absolutely agree. Even now you see Sweden is still terrified of Russia, while Russia, I am sorry to say, couldn't care less about Sweden! They have China and th

by brabel 7y ago

Absolutely agree. Even now you see Sweden is still terrified of Russia, while Russia, I am sorry to say, couldn't care less about Sweden! They have China and the US pointing guns at them!! Sweden is certainly one of the last things in their minds... and there's absolutely no other possible threat to Sweden security that comes even close to this imaginary one (maybe the USA would be that, given its recent history of unstable behavior and alienation of European countries - even suggesting in a nearly threatening tone to buy Greenland from another Nordic country, Denmark). To see people in this thread lamenting that the "preparedness" of an earlier time (i.e. readiness and willingness to fight a war) has been lost makes me sad, to be honest. Russia is a state that could do with some friends, and Sweden, being in such a good standing on the world stage, could be a great help to slowly introduce the Russians to the same side of the table, even if it doesn't agree with every policy from the Russians, but that of course will not happen... and I'm afraid that's not because the Russians are not willing to start discussions, it's unfortunately the Swedish side, and NATO, who are unlikely to do it due to this disproportionate fear that exists deep in their consciousness.

jacobush 7y ago
We know Russia does not care about Sweden. It didn't care much back then either, except that Sweden was completely surrounded by NATO on one side, and the Soviet realm on the other. To get to Norway in time you'd have to go through Sweden. To control the Baltic Sea you would have to take the island of Gotland, or at least make sure the other side is denied Gotland. Our defence was just to avoid being caught between a rock and hard place. The idea of not joining NATO was that standing outside of it, we had at least a slim chance of avoid being dragged into the bulk of the NATO - Soviet theatre of war. AS NATO members we would have been hit by default. How can any of this be hard to understand? Especially against the backdrop of World War 2 being in living memory, and that being neutral worked then. Just barely and from luck, bravery and evil in an even mix, but it did work. It's not in the strategic interest of Sweden even today to let Russia play divide and conquer. NordStream is such an attempt by Russia to divide Europe, and Sweden has protested, weakly. Russia does not care, of course. Nobody expected it will.

by brabel 7y ago

jacobush 7y ago

We know Russia does not care about Sweden. It didn't care much back then either, except that Sweden was completely surrounded by NATO on one side, and the Soviet realm on the other. To get to Norway in time you'd have to go through Sweden. To control the Baltic Sea you would have to take the island of Gotland, or at least make sure the other side is denied Gotland. Our defence was just to avoid being caught between a rock and hard place. The idea of not joining NATO was that standing outside of it, we had at least a slim chance of avoid being dragged into the bulk of the NATO - Soviet theatre of war. AS NATO members we would have been hit by default. How can any of this be hard to understand? Especially against the backdrop of World War 2 being in living memory, and that being neutral worked then. Just barely and from luck, bravery and evil in an even mix, but it did work. It's not in the strategic interest of Sweden even today to let Russia play divide and conquer. NordStream is such an attempt by Russia to divide Europe, and Sweden has protested, weakly. Russia does not care, of course. Nobody expected it will.