Sweden is boosting its military after Russia's ominous warning
Jun 27, 2015, 01:20 IST
Sweden, which is not part of NATO and has a tradition of not joining military alliances, will take part in NATO exercises in Spain in September.Hultqvist told a Swedish newspaper that the decision was a result of Russian military movements. "It's a general fact that Russia is carrying out bigger, more complex, and in some cases more provocative and defiant, exercises," Hultqvist said. "We are following that development and are now strengthening our military capability and our international cooperation." Sweden had already taken part in NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea. In response to the possibility of Sweden joining NATO in the future, Russian Ambassador Viktor Tatarintsev warned a Swedish newspaper that such a decision would bring Russian countermeasures against Stockholm. Tatarintsev also mentioned that Russia would "have to resort" to a military response and would reorientate troops and missiles, adding that "the country that joins NATO needs to be aware of the risks it is exposing itself to."
