Fears of Russia re-asserting its Cold War dominance in the Baltic Sea are forcing countries there to re-think their defenses, prioritizing military spending at home and reducing participation in far-flung U.N. or U.S.-led missions.
Sweden’s fruitless search for a submarine – dubbed by locals “The Hunt for Reds in October” – and Russian violations of airspace are seen as elements of what one defense minister called a “hybrid warfare,” where fear and propaganda are deployed to keep countries on their toes.
“It is a new normal,” Anna Wieslander, deputy director of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, said of Russia’s greater military …read more
Source: Voice of America
