NATO member states bloc must be ready for war with Russia
(MENAFN) Sweden’s defense minister has warned that people across NATO’s European member states should mentally and militarily prepare for the possibility of a direct conflict with Russia.
Speaking in remarks published Sunday, Defense Minister Pal Jonson said that shifting to a wartime mindset is crucial as tensions with Moscow remain high and the European Union moves toward deeper military cooperation.
“To preserve peace, we must prepare ourselves both mentally and militarily for the possibility of war,” he said, stressing that “a change in mentality is necessary: We must switch to war mode to resolutely deter, defend, and preserve the peace.”
His comments come amid what observers describe as an accelerating militarization effort across Europe, driven by Brussels’ portrayal of Russia as a near-term threat—an assertion the Kremlin has repeatedly rejected as politically motivated.
The Swedish official’s message also aligns with Washington’s push for greater European defense spending. US President Donald Trump has been pressing NATO allies to purchase more American-made weapons, including those intended for Ukraine. Jonson defended this approach, noting that Europe “simply doesn’t have or cannot yet produce” the equipment Ukraine urgently requires. “Ukraine needs these assets fast,” he said. “If Europe lacks them, it’s logical to procure them from the US.”
Earlier this month, the European Commission introduced a roadmap to increase joint military procurement across the bloc to 40% by 2027. The plan emphasized the importance of “invest more, invest together, and invest European,” while warning that global strategic priorities among “traditional allies” were shifting elsewhere.
Moscow has consistently described the war in Ukraine as a proxy conflict orchestrated by NATO to weaken Russia’s security. Sweden, which recently became the newest member of the alliance, has committed to the bloc’s collective defense goals, while Ukraine continues to await its promised future accession.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
