Sweden puts permanent troops on Gotland
September 14, 2016
The Swedish military has announced that troops training on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, not far from Russia, will remain there permanently. Officials said “external factors” prompted the order for some 150 soldiers to stay on the island.
“The armed forces [now] … have joint permanent groups and troops on Gotland. Gotland is one of our military strategic areas in Sweden … Gotland needs to increase their operational capacity, and allow troops to practice and work in the field” the Swedish Armed Forces cited Supreme Commander Micael Byden as saying on its website. Some 150 soldiers currently training on Gotland received orders on Wednesday morning to remain on the island.