The supreme commander of the Swedish armed forces, General Claesson: "I am sure and convinced that the Russians will be ready to test Article 5 of NATO at any moment, in the Baltic states or anywhere else in Europe."

General Michael Claesson, the head of the Swedish defense, stated that Russia is prepared to test NATO's Article 5, which refers to collective defense, in the Baltic states or in other parts of Europe. In an interview with Politico, he emphasized that Russia is taking significant strategic risks to achieve its objectives, as demonstrated in Chechnya, Georgia, and Crimea. Claesson warned that Europe is not prepared, either mentally or militarily, for a prolonged conflict with Russia, which he described as a "systemic conflict." He emphasized that diplomatic solutions will not be sufficient to stop Russian aggression and that the only language Russia understands is force, highlighting the need for a firm response from Europe.