Russian President Vladimir Putin may be seeking to dominate the Baltic Sea and is eyeing the strategically vital Swedish island of Gotland, according to Micael Bydén, the supreme commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. In an interview with German media network RND on May 22, Bydén expressed concerns about Putin’s intentions following Russia’s plans to unilaterally alter its maritime borders with Lithuania and Finland.
On May 21, Russia announced its intention to change the maritime borders in the Baltic Sea, aiming to appropriate inland sea waters in the Gulf of Finland and near the cities of Baltiysk and Zelenogradsk in Kaliningrad Oblast. This move, outlined in a decree by the Russian Defense Ministry, has raised alarms among Baltic nations and NATO members.
Sweden’s defense chief, Micael Bydén warns that Putin has both eyes on the strategic island of Gotland which would enable Russia to control the Baltic Sea thus making the Baltic States less defendable. pic.twitter.com/nQbx80Kqth
— PaulC (@PaulConRO) May 22, 2024
Bydén emphasized the strategic importance of Gotland, Sweden’s largest island, which lies about 330 kilometers north of Kaliningrad, home to Russia’s Baltic Fleet headquarters. “Who controls Gotland controls the Baltic Sea,” Bydén said, underscoring that control over the island would allow Russia to threaten NATO countries from the sea, disrupting peace and stability in the Nordic and Baltic regions.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has bolstered its defenses on Gotland by stationing permanent troops and maintaining additional forces that can be deployed if the threat level rises. This defensive posture was reinforced when Sweden joined NATO on March 7, 2024, abandoning over 200 years of military neutrality in response to Russian aggression.
Despite these measures, Bydén warned that Putin’s ambitions could still destabilize the region. The Russian military’s recent activities, including the presence of “shadow tankers” in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone near Gotland, have added to the tension. These tankers, part of an estimated 1,400-ship fleet operating unofficially, pose a challenge for NATO’s defensive capabilities.
NAVTEX warning fresh of the thermal printer:
Now there is GPS-disturbance all the way up to Visby, Gotland.
The area is getting large. Ongoing and preliminary, cause unknown. pic.twitter.com/QB1hXGkcg2
— Markus Jonsson (@auonsson) May 20, 2024
The international community has reacted strongly to Russia’s proposed maritime border changes. Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry summoned a Russian representative for an explanation, while Finnish officials, including President Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, stated they were closely monitoring the situation. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also reminded Russia of its obligations under the UN convention regulating maritime borders.
In response to the backlash, Russia withdrew the draft proposal without explanation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the incident, claiming there was “nothing political” about the draft and stressing the need for measures to ensure Russia’s security amid rising tensions in the Baltic region.
Expanded Coverage:
