British leaders could learn ‘lessons’ from Swedish government over Russia threat
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British leaders could learn “lessons” from the Swedish government and its brochures about preparing for war, the Defence Secretary has warned. John Healey told MPs that the UK is “stronger if its society is resilient”, after the Russian spy ship Yantar was spotted around UK waters.
Authorities in Sweden distributed a pamphlet titled In Case Of Crisis Or War last year, which featured advice about seeking shelter during an air raid and “food that is filling, energy-rich and that can be stored safely at room temperature”. Mr Healey had earlier told the Commons that Russia was “the most pressing and immediate threat” to the country, but reassured MPs that Moscow was “dangerous but fundamentally weak”.
Dr Ben Spencer, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Nordic Countries, said news the Yantar had entered UK waters twice over recent months was “concerning but of course not surprising”. He read the pamphlet’s title in Swedish – Om Krisen Eller Kriget Kommer – and asked: “Is it time for us to look into this?”.
Mr Healey replied: “One of the benefits of all Nordic countries now being part of Nato, of the very close defence and security relationships we have with those countries is that we can indeed learn from each other. “And not just the new before-Christmas approach that the Swedish have taken – the sense that a country is stronger if its society is resilient and if society is recognising that they may be under threat and ready to respond if required.
