Friday, May 30, 2025

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Swedish authorities warn of nuclear armageddon

The new cold war

Published 21 November 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Minister for Civil Defence, holds up the doomsday pamphlet.

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has issued a stark warning, urging citizens to prepare for potential terror attacks, deadly pandemics, airstrikes – and even nuclear war.

Despite the apocalyptic tone, which suggests that full-scale world war may be imminent, Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin insists that the purpose of the information is actually to “create calm”.

MSB, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, has released a new version of its emergency preparedness brochure, If Crisis or War Comes, which is now being sent out to all Swedish households. The document is marked by a sense of impending doom and a bleak outlook on the near future.

Notably, the new brochure is significantly thicker than the previous one from 2018 (31 pages compared to 20). MSB claims this is because “the global situation has deteriorated significantly since the earlier brochure was distributed”.

“War is ongoing in our surroundings, extreme weather is becoming more common. Terror threats, cyberattacks, and disinformation are being used to harm and influence us. Sweden has also joined NATO”, it states, adding that everyone must therefore “stand together and take responsibility for our country”.

The agency also warns that cyberattacks, influence campaigns, terrorism, and sabotage “can occur at any time, and much is already happening here and now”, declaring to the Swedish people that they cannot take “their freedom for granted” and must show “the will and courage to defend our open society – even if it involves sacrifices”.

The tone of the new MSB brochure is very alarmist. Photo: MSB

Everyone must “mobilize”

It also highlights Sweden’s NATO membership as an essential part of the country’s resilience against alleged external threats, asserting that “the purpose of the alliance is for member states to be so strong together that it deters others from attacking us”.

Swedes are told that war or an acute threat of war could be expected very soon and that the whole society must then “mobilize to face an aggressor and to ensure that the most essential aspects of society function”.

“Total defense duty applies to all Swedish citizens, both those living in Sweden and abroad… In the event of heightened preparedness, you are required to report to the location specified in your wartime placement order”, it emphasizes.

MSB further urges Swedes to learn how the various warning systems and alarms function, including how to differentiate between an air raid alarm and a preparedness alarm.

“Go immediately to the nearest bomb shelter, basement, or other protected area. You are better protected indoors than outdoors, especially in a room without windows”, it advises.

Nuclear and biological weapons

The agency also claims there is a risk that Sweden could be attacked with nuclear weapons and advises Swedes that “in the event of an attack with nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons”, they should “seek shelter in the same way as during an air raid” – preferably in a bomb shelter.

“After a few days, radiation levels will have decreased significantly”, it reassures.

“Bomb shelters protect against shockwaves and shrapnel from bombs. They also protect against shockwaves and heatwaves from nuclear weapons. Bomb shelters provide better protection than other places against radioactive fallout, gases from chemical weapons, and biological agents”, it further emphasizes.

Those without access to a bomb shelter are instead advised to seek out basements, garages, and underground subway stations – or to hide in tunnels or behind walls. If unable to reach such a location, people are instructed to crouch “in a trench or ditch” and remain there until authorities declare the danger is over.

In Ulf Kristersson’s Sweden, nuclear war is portrayed as imminent. Montage. Photo: Frankie Fouganthin/CC BY-SA 4.0, Vadimrysev/iStock

Share only “reliable sources”

According to MSB, Sweden is not only at risk of nuclear war but also faces an urgent threat from propaganda and disinformation.

“Foreign powers and other actors outside Sweden use disinformation, deception, and propaganda to influence us. Attempts to influence occur daily, primarily online and on social media. The goal is to create distrust and undermine our will to defend ourselves”, it states.

Psychological warfare is said to occur through the spreading of stories that are “false or partially true but taken out of context” or through fake video clips, voice recordings, and images. Hostile actors are also claimed to wage war against Sweden by “stirring emotions around an issue or event to make us anxious or suspicious of one another”.

This type of attack on Sweden is best countered by citizens remaining vigilant and sharing information only from what is described as “reliable sources”. The brochure does not explicitly specify which sources it considers reliable, apart from urging people to seek “verified information from authorities”.

“Extreme weather” threatens Sweden

Cyberattacks and terrorist attacks are highlighted, with the brochure declaring that “terror attacks and armed violence can target people or critical infrastructure such as electricity supply and transportation” – and here, too, citizens are urged to be ready to flee and seek shelter if they witness an attack.

“Extreme weather” is also said to threaten the Swedish population, with MSB claiming that “extreme weather such as torrential rain, flooding, and heatwaves is becoming more common” and that “the risk of natural disasters such as landslides and forest fires is increasing”.

Allegedly deadly pandemics are also said to threaten Sweden. Photo: PIKSEL/iStock

“If a contagious disease begins to spread, authorities will issue advice on how to protect yourself and others… Help reduce the spread by following the authorities’ recommendations”, it states.

Attracts international attention

The brochure also contains more everyday tips on home preparedness and emergency planning, such as how to stop bleeding and how to prepare for extended power outages. However, it is the apocalyptic tone that has drawn strong reactions.

Swedish authorities urging their population to prepare for potential nuclear attacks has also attracted international attention, with Britain’s The Times writing that Sweden appears to be preparing for a “global apocalypse”, while France’s Le Parisien merely notes that Swedes are being urged to prepare for war.

Germany’s Focus claims that the entire brochure is imbued with a “doomsday atmosphere”, and several other media outlets have expressed surprise over its contents and wording.

Save the Children, in turn, warns that the alarmist tone risks causing fear among children, while others point out the difficulty of focusing on daily life while being instructed to prepare for nuclear attacks.

Carl-Oskar Bohlin and MSB’s Charlotte Petri Gornitzka present the brochure. Photo: Government Offices of Sweden/Niklas Forsström

“Already happening here and now”

Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M), Minister for Civil Defense, states that the purpose of the brochure is to “inform” and “create calm” and maintains that the threat of war against Sweden is not immediately imminent.

On the other hand, Bohlin adds, influence campaigns, terrorism, and sabotage “can occur at any time”, and much of it is said to be “already happening here and now”.

The minister further states that Swedes should not “run into the woods and cut themselves off from the rest of society”, but instead focus on being prepared, taking responsibility, and showing solidarity with the rest of the community.

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German chancellor aims to build Europe’s largest army – may reinstate conscription

The new cold war

Published 15 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz (CDU).

The Christian Democrats’ new chancellor in Germany, former BlackRock executive Friedrich Merz, has set the tone for his government by declaring the goal of making the Bundeswehr Europe’s strongest army.

In his first speech to the Bundestag, he emphasized the need for increased military spending – and at the same time opened the door to reintroducing conscription in Germany.

When Merz recently took over as Germany’s chancellor, he quickly made it clear that the military is high on his political agenda, according to reports by Euroactiv, among others. In his first speech to the German Bundestag, Merz emphasized that Germany must “take greater responsibility” for Europe’s security and that the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, should become the continent’s most powerful force.

Merz explained that the government is prepared to allocate more resources where he believes Germany can no longer rely on other countries’ military protection.

The federal government will provide all financial resources that the German Armed Forces need to become the strongest military in Europe in conventional terms, the new chancellor said in his speech.

Borrowed money to finance

To enable the increased defense spending, Merz’s government has decided to reform the so-called debt brake, a rule that previously limited the state’s ability to borrow money.

Easing these restrictions opens the door to significant investments in both equipment and personnel for the Bundeswehr.

Social Democrat Defense Minister Boris Pistorius welcomed the new investments but warned that the biggest bottleneck now is the shortage of soldiers. The Bundeswehr has struggled for several years to fill its ranks, and recruitment has not kept pace with ambitions.

If it is not possible to attract enough volunteers to the armed forces, the reintroduction of conscription may become a possibility – something that the Merz government is now investigating in more detail.

However, the defense spending plans have met with some resistance from critics who argue that increased military spending risks crowding out other important areas of society, such as healthcare, education, and social security. Others warn that rearmament could lead to increased tensions in Europe and that Germany should prioritize diplomacy and cooperation over military spending.

Merz and his government, however, argue that a strong defense force is essential to safeguarding both the country’s security and its independence.

Macron opens the door to deploying French nuclear weapons in other EU countries

The new cold war

Published 14 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
After the UK's "Brexit", Emmanuel Macron's France is now the only nuclear power in the EU.

France is prepared to begin discussions with other European countries about deploying French fighter jets armed with nuclear weapons on their territory – similar to what the US already does in certain countries. This was confirmed by President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

– The Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Macron said in an interview with TF1. The US is believed to have around 50 nuclear weapons stored at the Incirlik air base in southern Turkey.

– We are ready to open this discussion. I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come.

Macron also mentioned three conditions for such a step: that France will not pay for the security of other countries, that it will not be at the expense of the country’s own needs, and that the final decision will always rest with the President of the French Republic in his capacity as commander-in-chief.

France is the EU’s only nuclear power, and since the war in Ukraine broke out, there has been growing debate about extending the French nuclear umbrella to include the Union’s partners.

Poland, which like France is a key ally of Ukraine and a growing force within the EU, has already expressed a desire to be covered by the French deterrent.

– There has always been a European dimension in the consideration of what we call vital interests. We do not elaborate on this because ambiguity goes hand in hand with the deterrent, said Macron.

Concerns about nuclear war

Plans to deploy French nuclear weapons in other European countries have raised concerns among experts and security analysts. Critics argue that such a move risks further inflaming tensions between NATO and Russia and could be perceived as a strategic escalation rather than defensive protection.

In the long run, there are fears that it could contribute to increased militarization and raise the risk of misunderstandings or misjudgments that could, in the worst case, lead to a large-scale nuclear conflict in Europe with devastating consequences something that several analysts have warned about since the war in Ukraine broke out.

Others are more positive and argue that European countries must face the harsh reality that the major powers already have extensive nuclear arsenals that they have no plans to give up, and that deterrence with their own nuclear weapons is not only necessary but also the most effective way to prevent future attacks.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, France currently has just under 300 nuclear weapons, compared to Russia’s approximately 5,900 and the US’s 5,300. However, it is emphasized that these are qualified estimates and that there is rarely any public data on countries’ nuclear arsenals.

Lithuanian ex-president: “No need to fear Russia’s nuclear weapons”

The new cold war

Published 14 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Dalia Grybauskaité was one of the voices calling for NATO to attack Russia as early as 2022.

Lithuania’s former president Dalia Grybauskaité rejects Vladimir Putin’s proposal for peace talks with Ukraine as disingenuous, claiming that it is merely a tactical maneuver aimed at buying time.

Despite widespread concerns that the war will escalate into a large-scale European nuclear conflict, Grybauskaité argues that the threat of weapons of mass destruction is greatly exaggerated and asserts that “there is no reason to fear nuclear weapons”.

– I believe these are games for the time being, an attempt to stall for time, an attempt to shift the blame to the Ukrainian side, but in fact they are stalling for time and are unwilling to end the war now, at least in the near future as they want to occupy as much of Ukraine as possible, the former president said in a press statement on Monday.

Her statement came after four European leaders visited Kiev over the weekend and appealed for a temporary ceasefire as a basis for peace talks. Putin responded with a counterproposal for direct negotiations in Istanbul – an initiative that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has shown some openness to, but only after a ceasefire is in place.

Most notable, however, was how Grybauskaité downplayed the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the conflict – describing Russian nuclear deterrence as “an obsolete doctrine” and claiming that weapons of mass destruction should no longer be considered a relevant threat in modern warfare.

– Nuclear deterrence was effective after World War Two, during the Cold War, but not now. No umbrella will help because now we have completely different weapons, a completely different nature of war. Nuclear weapons will not scare anybody.

“An obsolete instrument”

As recently as November, Russia updated its nuclear doctrine and opened the door to using tactical nuclear weapons in response to large-scale conventional military attacks a move that has led to increased concern in several European capitals.

Despite this, Grybauskaité tried to downplay fears of nuclear weapons as completely unfounded – and instead turned the threat back on Moscow:

– There is no need to fear and there is no need to pay attention as it is an obsolete instrument and there is nothing to fear. The Russians may be afraid of nuclear weapons themselves, so let them be afraid.

It should be noted that Dalia Grybauskaité has long been one of the most vocal advocates in Europe for a more confrontational line toward Russia. Throughout the war in Ukraine, she has repeatedly criticized the West’s stance in the conflict and called for more direct military involvement from NATO including attacks on Russian targets. According to Grybauskaité, the only way to stop Putin is to meet him with military force, not diplomacy.

War can only be stopped by a war”, she has declared, arguing that “if we do not stop Putin in Ukraine, we will still have to fight a war, but in our countries”.

NATO expands military presence in Europe

The new cold war

Published 13 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
NATO led exercise in Sweden, 2024 (archive image).

The US military alliance NATO is currently building a number of new bases and strengthening its military presence along Europe’s eastern flank – from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In Romania, an entire military city is emerging with space for tens of thousands of soldiers and their families. In response to NATO’s expansion, Russia is also further expanding its military infrastructure along its western border.

While the expansion of military bases continues, the number of so-called multinational combat groups continues to increase, as do demands for higher defense spending among NATO member states. Some describe this development as a new iron curtain – this time in the form of military infrastructure.

One of the most extensive projects is taking place in Cincu in central Romania, where a whole new military community is now emerging. According to information from the state channel SVT, NATO is building a base there with space for up to 10,000 soldiers and their families.

The area includes new runways, roads, schools, housing, and shops – with the aim of supporting a long-term presence in the region. The construction, which began shortly after the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, is part of a larger pattern in which NATO has gradually strengthened its presence in the east.

Mark Rutte: “There are no alternatives”

Critics, however, argue that the rapid militarization in Europe risks exacerbating an already tense situation. Instead of diplomatic solutions and détente, Western countries are choosing to respond with more soldiers, more weapons, and more bases.

At the same time, NATO’s incoming Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed that member states should spend up to 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense. This should include not only increased spending on weapons and troops, but also extensive investments in new infrastructure, digital security, and logistics.

There are no alternatives. We must prepare ourselves for a more unpredictable security situation, Rutte said recently in a statement.

Mark Rutte Nato
Mark Rutte, right, wants NATO member countries to significantly increase their defense spending. Photo: NATO/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Russia reinforces

Across the border, Russia is reportedly increasing its military activity near Finland, where Russian bases in Kamenka and Petrozavodsk, among other places, are reportedly being upgraded. The Kremlin has also responded with its own military exercises and a stronger presence in areas close to NATO countries.

Both East and West thus appear to be in a period of significantly increased military build-up. Official sources describe this as defensive measures, but critical voices warn that this is rather a mutual arms race, with Europe as the main arena.

Representatives of peace organizations argue that military walls have never been a recipe for stability and long-term peace. Instead, they believe that diplomacy and security guarantees should be the focus – not permanent troop deployments and military cities.

FACT: NATO bases in Eastern Europe

  • Battle groups since 2017 - NATO has had four permanent multinational battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland since 2017.
  • Expansion after 2022 - Following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, four additional teams have been established in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.
  • Cincu base in Romania - One of the largest new facilities is being built in Cincu, accommodating 10,000 soldiers and dependants. The area will have housing, schools, shops and airstrips.
  • Rotating forces - Troops from countries including France, Belgium and the Netherlands will regularly rotate through the bases, with support from the US.
  • NATO member states are expected to increase their defense spending in the future, according to a proposal by incoming Secretary-General Mark Rutte, to a total of 5% of GDP (3.5% for military defense and 1.5% for related infrastructure and cybersecurity). However, this is not yet decided.

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