By Anna Ringstrom

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) – The Swedish military stated on Thursday that it is intensifying its activities on Gotland in Baltic Sea amid rising tensions between NATO members and Russia. This comes after a Russian-led deployment of landing craft to the Baltic.

Moscow provoked fear among the West when it gathered troops in Ukraine to raise concerns about its intentions of invading. Moscow denied any plans to invade Ukraine and said it could deploy troops anywhere it wants.

Gotland is Sweden’s largest island and it lies approximately 330 km (205 miles), from Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is the Russian headquarters for Russia’s Baltic Fleet. Sweden installed a new ground-to-air missile defense system on Gotland in 2019.

Lieutenant General Michael Claesson of the Armed Forces’ Chief of Joint Operation, said to Reuters, that starting Thursday troops would be patrolling Visby (Gotland’s largest town) harbour and airfield.

Sweden isn’t a NATO member, but it has strong ties with the Atlantic alliance. It has been increasing its military after years of neglect and increased concern about Russian sabre-rattling around the Baltic Sea.

Claesson claimed that Gotland’s move was initiated by Russian landing craft entering the Baltic Sea. It followed years and deteriorating security conditions including those in Sweden’s immediate geographical vicinity.

“Recent security developments, tensions at the security policy level haven’t changed this picture but reinforced it,” he stated. He also said that the military had noticed an increase in foreign offensive capability close to Sweden.

He said “… Russian landing vessels are an example such offensive capability.” “They passed through Denmark’s Great Belt Strait, and then continued on to the Baltic Sea.”

Claesson claimed that other parts of Sweden were being reacted to Russian actions, but declined to comment further.

Last week, Sweden’s military chief stated that Sweden’s security strategy will be completely undermined if NATO agrees to stop expanding and reduce its activities in Europe as Russia demands.