Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson recently emphasized the precarious state of his nation amidst escalating hybrid threats, stating, "Sweden is not at war, but there is not peace either." He made these remarks during the annual Folk och Försvar defense forum in Sälen, highlighting that while there are no traditional military confrontations, a form of conflict persists influenced by hybrid warfare tactics.

Several submarine telecom and power cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged in recent months, incidents that have drawn attention as potential actions orchestrated by Russia. These activities align with a broader narrative of unrest since the onset of the Ukraine invasion in February 2022. The Prime Minister stated, "Real peace means freedom and no serious conflicts between countries," as he described the hybrid warfare tactics including cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, and threats of sabotage that have been increasingly evident in the region.

In December 2022, significant damages were reported when the Estlink 2 electricity cable, along with multiple telecom cables linking Finland and Estonia, were compromised. This incident follows similar attacks on two telecom cables in Swedish waters merely weeks prior. Kristersson noted that the unusual occurrences in and around the Baltic Sea raise serious concerns about hostile intentions and state-sponsored sabotage, although he refrained from directly blaming any particular nation for these incidents. He did, however, characterize the Russian threat as a likely long-term concern for Sweden.

The Prime Minister also addressed the rise of proxy wars in the current geopolitical climate, specifying that Iran has allegedly been employing violent organized criminal gangs within Sweden to carry out attacks, often targeting Israeli interests. Sweden's intelligence agency, Säpo, has previously accused Iran of enlisting local gang members, some still minors, to execute these acts of violence.

As tensions increase and security measures intensify, Kristersson asserted, "The Swedish government is taking this seriously." The ongoing situation in the Baltic Sea, compounded by cyber threats, underscores the complexity of modern conflicts that go beyond conventional warfare. (source)