The Swedish island of Gotland is fast gaining prominence as a critical point of control in the Baltic Sea, according to Swedish and Polish military officers. This comes as both nations take part in joint military exercises this week, designed to deter any potential aggression from Russia , against the backdrop of rising tensions between NATO and Moscow.

“It’s basically like a huge aircraft carrier in the middle of the Baltic,” Quartermaster Oscar Hannus of the Swedish Navy said, framed by one of Sweden’s RBS-15 missile systems that would be used against any seaborne threat to the island.

Hannus’ unit, along with paratroopers and coastal missile forces from Poland, is one of several taking part in Operation Gotland Sentry, testing Sweden’s and NATO’s plans to deploy land, sea, and air

See Full Page