GOTLAND, Sweden (AP) — In a recent war game scenario, one of NATO’s newest members, Sweden, faced a threat from an unnamed country that was amassing troops along NATO’s eastern border. Uniquely, non-NATO member Ukraine participated by providing insights on drone warfare, issuing a critical warning to the alliance.
The Associated Press observed the Swedish-led military exercises this week at a time when Europe confronts not only the Russian threat but also concerns regarding the commitment of NATO’s most powerful member, the United States.
The war game reflected real security challenges. Russia has intensified sabotage operations, including cyberattacks on essential infrastructure and spreading disinformation across Europe, according to an AP investigation.
This exercise, featuring the Swedish island of Gotland facing simulated power outages and food shortages due to sabotage, assessed possible NATO actions prior to invoking Article 5, the collective defense clause. “In theory, it could happen tomorrow,” stated Rear Adm. Jonas Wikström, who led the exercise.
Europe Evaluates Trump’s Unpredictable NATO Stance
Sweden’s Defense Chief, Gen. Michael Claesson, emphasized that the United States is Europe’s most militarily capable ally, so any changes in U.S. troop deployments significantly influence overall dynamics. He noted that President Donald Trump’s announcements regarding troop reductions in Europe have led to interpretations that America is withdrawing, even if that perception is not accurate.
Military leaders in Europe are closely monitoring the Trump administration’s attitude towards NATO, which the President has criticized as a “paper tiger.” Recently, Trump has directed the removal of at least 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany while expressing intentions to withdraw more.
Ukrainian Drone Forces Showcase Skills in Exercise
In this week’s war games, Ukrainian forces displayed their battlefield knowledge and assertiveness in demonstrating the importance of Ukraine as a potential NATO member. A group of Ukrainian drone pilots successfully outmaneuvered Swedish troops in the exercise, highlighting the need for Western forces to adapt rapidly to drone warfare.
Ukrainian pilots emphasized the urgency for Western nations to learn from their experiences with drones. Brig. Gen. Curtis King from the U.S. military affirmed that the knowledge gained is essential for countering drone operations effectively along NATO’s borders with Russia, where drone incursions have recently increased.
Putin’s Potential Strategy in the Baltic Sea
The focus of the war game was the strategically significant island of Gotland, situated in the Baltic Sea between the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Sweden. Gen. Claesson remarked that controlling Gotland essentially means controlling the central part of the Baltic Sea, crucial for Russia’s shipping operations.
Historically, Sweden reduced its military presence on Gotland after the Cold War. However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there has been a renewed emphasis on military presence there, particularly as Sweden and Finland joined NATO in 2024. Claesson noted that an achievable scenario could see President Vladimir Putin using Gotland to test NATO’s response by making territorial probes into alliance territory.
