Russia has intensified its provocations against NATO and the West, with recent airspace violations and disinformation campaigns. Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard highlights the threat to European security, as NATO's readiness is tested. The situation is further complicated by Russia's increased hostile rhetoric, targeting countries like Finland and Denmark.
Escalating Tensions: Russia's Provocations and Threats to European Security
Escalating Tensions: Russia's Provocations and Threats to European Security
Violations, disinformation campaigns, and hostile rhetoric. Recently, Russia has escalated both its provocations and its tone against NATO and the West. "This clearly shows that Russia is a threat not only to Ukraine but to the security of all Europe," says Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard in a statement.
Three fighter jets in Estonian airspace and two in a security zone around a Polish oil platform in the Baltic Sea.
Friday's violations are the latest in a series of Russian provocations against NATO countries, leading to the activation of the defense alliance's Article 4 twice in less than a week.
Foreign Minister: "Extremely Serious"
On the night of September 11, several Russian drones were shot down in Poland, and just two days later, a Russian drone intruded into Romania.
"We have seen repeated airspace violations by Russia in recent weeks. In Poland, Romania, and Estonia. Today, Jas Gripen followed Russian fighter jets over the Baltic Sea back to Russian airspace," writes Maria Malmer Stenergard on X on Friday.
"It is extremely serious. Russia is testing us and NATO's readiness. This clearly shows that Russia is a threat not only to Ukraine but to the security of all Europe," she continues.
Increased Hostile Rhetoric
But it's not just the Russian violations that have increased; the hostile rhetoric has also intensified. According to the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia has recently launched a coordinated disinformation campaign about Finland, spreading criticism against the Finnish government and claiming public dissatisfaction.
The propaganda follows the same pattern used against Ukraine to pave the way for the full-scale invasion in 2022, ISW notes.
Denmark has also been targeted. On Friday, Russia's ambassador in the country claimed that the Danes are using the island of Bornholm to threaten Russia's security. The statement came after the Danish government's announcement earlier in the week to invest in long-range precision weapons.
"Fear is one of Russia's most important assets right now in the broader conflict against the West," says Oscar Jonsson, a doctor of war science at the Swedish Defence University, on SVT's Aktuellt.
"Russia must keep that fear alive in Europe to make us do less, simply. It is one of their most important assets; it's not that Russia has any superhuman strength," he continues.