Sweden’s Defense Minister, Pål Jonson, called on European nations to prepare for possible conflict, citing intensified Russian hybrid operations. In an interview on October 19, 2025, Jonson stressed that maintaining peace in Europe requires both mental and military readiness for war. “A shift in mindset is necessary: we must enter a wartime mode to decisively deter, defend, and preserve peace,” he said.
Rising hybrid threats and airspace violations
Jonson highlighted recent incidents involving drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace, signaling Russia’s willingness to escalate political and military risks. He argued that Europe must respond to provocations, including hybrid attacks and airspace violations, to show Russia that any aggression will be met with a clear counteraction.
Public support and defense investments
According to Jonson, 90% of Swedes support increasing defense spending and sustaining or expanding aid to Ukraine. He emphasized that proximity to Russia has reinforced the understanding that peace is not a given, but something that must be actively defended. Strengthening military assistance to Ukraine, enhancing sanctions against Russia, particularly in the energy sector, and using frozen Russian assets for defense investments were listed as priority measures.
Strategic rationale for Ukraine support
Jonson framed support for Ukraine as both solidarity and a European security investment. Helping Kyiv serves to contain Russian aggression, preventing its spread to other European nations. He underlined that any escalation by Moscow must meet collective resistance rather than isolated responses.
Sweden as a model of European resolve
Sweden, having recently joined NATO, is positioning itself for active defense, adopting a “wartime” mindset both psychologically and structurally. Jonson’s statements reflect Europe’s growing recognition that Russia already wages hybrid warfare, employing cyberattacks, disinformation, airspace breaches, and energy leverage. The Swedish approach exemplifies the need for readiness, demonstrating that preserving peace requires preparation for conflict.
Recent security developments
In 2024, Sweden identified Russia as its greatest security threat, describing the current political and security situation as the most dangerous since World War II. In 2025, disruptions to GPS signals over the Baltic, attributed to Russia, have threatened civil aviation and maritime transport, reinforcing concerns about hybrid operations. Additionally, unidentified drones were observed over Karlskrona, home to Sweden’s main naval base, and other European sites, prompting Stockholm and the EU to invest in counter-drone capabilities.
Call for collective action
Jonson urged European allies to scale up military supplies to Ukraine and tighten sanctions, emphasizing that only a robust, coordinated approach will convey to Moscow that its war risks undermining its own power and cannot succeed. Sweden’s stance signals a broader European shift toward readiness and collective deterrence.
Europe, he stressed, must be prepared not just technically, but politically and morally, to defend the continent’s security in an era of escalating hybrid threats.
