Sweden's unusual war strategy

Sweden Gets Ready for Total Defense

Sweden’s government isn’t naming names. But the distribution of a new leaflet explaining to its citizens how they can prepare for “total defense” is obviously being done with Russia in mind, writes Rick Noack for the Washington Post.

“Sweden has 20,000 active military members while Russia has over a million, and the Swedes would be unlikely to win any confrontation with Moscow. Stockholm also isn’t a member of NATO, the military alliance that obliges members to help defend member states in case of an attack,” Noack writes.

“Instead, Sweden is circling back to its Cold War-era strategy of total defense, which relies on all citizens resisting an invasion and refusing to cooperate with any foreign powers.”

The leaflet “comes with illustrations showing Swedes fending off foreign powers or responding to catastrophes, as well as lists of essential food or advice on how to deal with a broken toilet.”

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