Sweden’s offshore wind plans could impact country’s national defense
Soldiers from the 13th Counterintelligence Battalion, 2nd Reconnaissance Platoon, of the Swedish Armed Forces participate in military exercise in Kungsangen, Sweden, on Feb. 27. (AFP Photo)
Offshore wind power farms proposed along Sweden’s Baltic Sea coast may compromise national defense capabilities, Defense Minister Pal Jonson said Friday, as concerns grow over regional security in the wake of heightened tensions with Russia.
A study conducted by the Swedish Armed Forces, published by public broadcaster SVT, suggests that more than a dozen planned wind projects in the Baltic Sea could interfere with critical military sensors. The wind turbines’ rotating blades and structures create radar echoes and other disruptions, including underwater, which may impair Sweden’s ability to detect submarines.
In a statement to AFP, Jonson emphasized the implications of these projects on Sweden’s defense readiness. “Among other things, the warning time for a missile attack could be cut from two minutes to 60 seconds with offshore wind parks in the way,” he noted. Jonson underscored the issue’s importance “considering the gravity of the security situation in northern Europe and the Baltic Sea.”
The Baltic region’s security landscape has shifted since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. NATO recently established a new naval base in Rostock, Germany, aiming to enhance coordination among member states in the area. Against this backdrop, Sweden’s energy strategy, which includes a growing reliance on renewable sources, has added complexity to defense planning.
