Since the conflict in Ukraine began, the fear of war resonates strongly in countries like Finland and Sweden, nations that went from being neutral to aspiring to join NATO.
Sweden is especially alert these days after two senior defense officials warned Swedes to prepare for war, which has sparked concern and accusations of scaremongering, the BBC reports.
Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin declared at a defense conference that “there could be a war in Sweden.” His message was backed by the army’s commander-in-chief, General Michael Byden, who said all Swedes should mentally prepare for that possibility. However, opposition politicians have objected to the tone of the warnings.
Former Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson told Swedish television that, although the security situation was serious, “it is not as if war is on the horizon.”