Page 28 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

FIGURE 6 FROM A SWEDISH VIDEO ABOUT EXERCISE AURORA 2017
The Exercise will contribute to the development of Sweden’s total defence capabilities. Therefore, it is planned that
around 40 other agencies will participate. In addition, in order to have as good an exercise as possible, and at
the same time exercise Sweden’s defence capability against a larger, sophisticated opponent, other countries have
been invited to participate in Aurora 17.

The exercise is the largest in Sweden for more than 20 years and involves the forces of several other nations,
including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Norway, Lithuania, and the United States.
More than 20,000 troops are involved.

http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/en/activities/exercises/aurora-17/

According to an article published in The Express on September 11, 2017:

The three-week Aurora 17 drill kicked off on Monday and will chiefly take place around the strategic Baltic Sea
island of Gotland and the regions surrounding Stockholm and Goteborg.

But the show of military might has rattled Russia, who branded the drills aggressive and said it was not necessary
as Russia posed no threat to Sweden.

The Swedish military said the exercise by the non-NATO nation is designed “to deter potential attackers, and
force them to carefully consider the risks of attacking our country.”

The drills are being held amid fears over Russia’s military buildup in the region, which also has also seen several
reports of airspace violations by Russian military aircraft.

Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told the Financial Times: “If you control Gotland, you have control over
the sea and the airways towards the Baltic states.

“It’s about handling the realities of the security situation in our part of Europe.

“It’s an important signal to the Swedish population and also to other countries and partners that we take this
security situation seriously.”

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/852842/Sweden-military-exercise-Aurora-17-drill-Nato-Vladimir-
Putin-fight-Russia-Zapad-drill

It should be noted that Sweden is reintroducing conscription as well.
Second Line of Defense

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