Swedish military seeks to take over Russian-owned estate near naval base
The armed forces request the seizure of the plot near Muskö Naval Base citing threats from Russian drones.
The Swedish armed forces have petitioned the government to seize a Russian-owned estate situated close to a naval base on Muskö island, citing national security concerns.
The military's request for expropriation of the beach plot, located near the Muskö base in the Stockholm archipelago, is based on "the threat from Russian drones and the ownership situation of the property."
According to Swedish media, a businessman with ties to the Russian state has been constructing a luxury residence on Muskö island. However, his wife, who possesses dual Russian and Swedish citizenship, is the registered owner of the property.
This development comes two years after Sweden abandoned two centuries of military non-alignment to join Nato, a decision prompted by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
In its official statement, the military highlighted that the location offers "unique conditions for strengthening the defence of Muskö Naval Base, particularly against drones." The statement further noted that the evolution of Russian drone warfare has "changed the threat landscape for Sweden."
Public broadcaster SVT characterized the property as having been "a thorn in the armed forces' side."
Defence Minister Pål Jonson, as reported by Sweden's TV4, stated that the nation must "make sure there's no risk of anyone gaining visibility into the site or any kind of tactical edge."
The armed forces' statement included a quote from Chief of the Defence Staff Carl-Johan Edström, who asserted that Sweden is "facing the most serious security situation since the end of World War Two."
It remains uncertain whether the Russian businessman is currently residing in Sweden. His wife has reportedly owned the property since 2017.