Sweden's Plans to Create NATO Base on Gotland Island Provocative - Moscow

 Sweden's plans to create a NATO base on the island of Gotland are provocative, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“The Russian side has repeatedly warned about the risks arising in connection with the military development by the alliance of the territories of the new member countries in the north of Europe. NATO is seeking to increase its military potential in the Baltic. In this context, Stockholm intends to strengthen the 'strategically important' island of Gotland in order to improve defense against the imaginary 'Russian threat,'" the ministry said.

It said Stockholm restored its military presence on Gotland in 2015, and in April 2023, before joining NATO, Swedish troops practiced efforts to counter an armed attack during military exercises on the island.