- cross-posted to:
- europe
- cross-posted to:
- europe
After being demilitarized in 2005, Sweden re-introduced permanent troops to Gotland in 2016, following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Sweden also became NATO’s newest member in March — meaning it is covered by the alliance’s Article 5 guarantee that all other members come to each other’s defense if they are attacked.
Sweden has a tripwire force on the island, as of shortly after the invasion of Crimea. Within hours, it would be joined by larger forces from the mainland, and quite possibly from NATO allies such as Poland and Finland. The Russians would have a considerably worse time than in Ukraine.
You get assigned there if you really piss someone off.
If everything is going normally, it’s a fairly easy posting on a picturesque island best known for holidays. If the shit hits the fan, your death will be a heroic one.
Well they are descendents of Vikings