Swedish defence minister calls Russian violation of airspace 'unacceptable'
Source: CTV News/Reuters
Published Wednesday, March 2, 2022 3:43PM EST
Last Updated Wednesday, March 2, 2022 5:02PM EST
STOCKHOLM -- Four Russian fighter jets briefly entered Swedish territory over the Baltic Sea on Wednesday, the Swedish Armed Forces said, sparking a swift condemnation from Sweden's defence minister.
Two Russian SU27 and two SU24 fighter jets briefly entered Swedish airspace east of the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, Sweden's Armed Forces said in a statement, adding that Swedish JAS 39 Gripen jets were sent to document the violation.
"The Russian violation of Swedish airspace is of course completely unacceptable," Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told news agency TT. "It will lead to a firm diplomatic response from Sweden. Swedish sovereignty and territory must always be respected."
Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/swedish-defence-minister-calls-russian-violation-of-airspace-unacceptable-1.5802868
AntiFascist
(12,792 posts)Rebl2
(13,303 posts)samsingh
(17,571 posts)quakerboy
(13,901 posts)Does Sweden have a large military, ready to take on Russia at the drop of a probing hat?
Ray Bruns
(4,023 posts)former9thward
(31,802 posts)Active forces 24,000. In comparison the New York City police department has 36,000.
Raven123
(4,714 posts)Irish_Dem
(45,619 posts)gab13by13
(20,864 posts)IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)paleotn
(17,778 posts)C Moon
(12,188 posts)Once again. Hes showing his cards. Just like trump always did. putin intends on attacking Sweden when (if) hes done with Ukraine.
Gore1FL
(21,030 posts)I suspect it was an error. If it was intentional, it was probing to determine a response.
Doremus
(7,261 posts)Poking around a bit to see what the response might be. That's been his MO with American airspace. If Sweden thinks their polite response means a hill of beans to anybody, they'd do well to rethink it.
yardwork
(61,413 posts)This is just posturing.
Response to inanna (Original post)
Post removed
ColinC
(8,227 posts)and NATO countries against Russia, and indirectly forcing NATO on board?
EndlessWire
(6,373 posts)That area is frequently tested.
It is interesting that they sent four fighters. I think that NATO should wise up and immediately offer instant membership to Sweden and Finland. Make them temporary members if they want. But, bring them under the umbrella of NATO.
I think that Russia has lost its mind. Why start probing Sweden? Because of the Baltic Sea? Because Germany sent military assets to the Baltic Sea to support those tiny NATO countries? Or, is this some kind of insane test of those two threatened nonNATO countries, a warning of some kind?
This would only make me want to join NATO more.
DENVERPOPS
(8,677 posts)the 40K for defection to all the Putin pilots to defect, and land their planes at a nato air base...............
Same with the Chinese Pilots.........
Of course the pilots would have to make sure to have their families and relatives get out of the country before they did this desertion......
Justice matters.
(6,873 posts)Not 1 doubt about it now.
blue-wave
(4,313 posts)Just shoot them down. Havent we learned by now that Putin has no respect for the west at all. He does what he wants. Someone has to enforce the rule of law. If not, when will we learn?
LiberalFighter
(50,493 posts)DENVERPOPS
(8,677 posts)satellites and SR-71's over the soviet union at extremely high altitudes.......
LiberalFighter
(50,493 posts)IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)DFW
(54,050 posts)Sweden has a credible air force, even builds its own fighter planes (Saab). At the next incursion, either shoot the invaders out of the sky, or accept them. Thirty-five or so years ago, Swedish PM Olaf Palme used to downplay the notion of Soviet submarines operating in Swedish territorial watersuntil one of them ran aground on the rocks of the Swedish coast. Even Palme couldnt overlook THAT one.