Talking Europe - ‘Every Swede has a role to play in our total defence concept’: Swedish Civil Defence Minister Bohlin

Sweden's Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin has emphasized the importance of every individual contributing to the country's total defence concept. This comes as Sweden faces increasing threats from grey zone aggression, including cyber attacks, disinformation, and drone sightings.

Speaking during a visit to Paris, Bohlin stressed that countries along Russia's eastern flank are on the frontline, and European allies need to take civilian preparedness seriously in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The Swedish minister is playing a key role in shaping Sweden's evolving security landscape.

According to Bohlin, everyone has a role to play in this context. This implies that not just the military but also civilians must be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond effectively to emerging threats. By working together, Sweden aims to strengthen its resilience against potential attacks.

The rising threat of grey zone aggression is a pressing concern for many European countries. As tensions escalate, it's essential for nations to bolster their collective preparedness and coordinate their efforts to address this complex challenge.

By adopting a proactive approach to civil defence, Sweden can help set an example for other European nations, underscoring the importance of cooperation in the face of emerging threats.

I dont think its just about military strength you know? if everyone's involved civilly too we might actually stand a better chance against these grey zone attacks . Like think about it if every single person in Sweden knows what to do in case of an emergency, whether its a cyber attack or some random drone sighting, that would be a major advantage right? and not just for sweden but for the whole region...it makes sense to prepare together

I think it's really good that Sweden is taking the lead on this, ya know? We're already seeing so many cyber attacks and stuff like that going around, it's crazy! And it's not just about the military, it's about everyday people being prepared too. Like, have you ever thought about what you'd do if there was a power outage or something? It's easy to panic, but having some basic knowledge and skills can make all the difference. I think Sweden is onto something by saying everyone has a role to play in this, it's not just about the government or military, it's about each individual doing their part.

"The protection of people and the preservation of government both go hand-in-hand; they can never be separated." As the threats from grey zone aggression keep on increasing, it's time for all countries to work together and make sure that everyone is prepared for the worst. Civil defence is not just about the military, but also about how we as civilians are equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively in times of crisis. We need to put our differences aside and come together to strengthen our resilience against potential attacks.

It's not just the strong that survive – it is those who know how to use strength wisely. ️

I'm not sure about Sweden's plan to make everyone a 'civilian soldier' ‍... sounds like a recipe for chaos! I mean, who's gonna be responsible when the drones start flying around? ‍ The military will already be stretched thin with all these grey zone threats. What about the people who can't even handle a fire alarm? Plus, what's the point of having everyone 'equipped' if they just end up panicking in an emergency situation? We need more than just knowledge and skills, we need resources, funding, and actual training programs that work. Just saying...

"The enemy of my enemy is not always my friend, but I'll take all the help I can get!" The situation with Russia and Ukraine is getting super intense, and it's about time Europe starts taking its cyber security seriously! We can't just sit back and wait for someone to attack us; we gotta be prepared and work together .

I mean, think about it... back in my day, we didn't have all these cyber attacks and drone sightings, but we still had to be prepared for the unexpected. My grandfather used to say that "know thy enemy" was just as important as having a good rifle. Nowadays, it's not just about knowing who's behind the attacks, it's about knowing how to respond before they even happen. I'm not saying Sweden is doing anything wrong, but it does seem like they're putting a lot of emphasis on individual preparedness. Maybe that's a good thing? Everyone should know what to do in case of an emergency, you know?

Honestly, I think we're being way too soft on cyber attacks . Like, what's the point of having top-notch cybersecurity if we just sit back and let them do their thing? We need to be proactive, you know? Instead of just relying on our military to save us, we should be educating ourselves as civilians on how to protect ourselves online. It's not that hard, really!

Sweden is finally taking its grey zone aggression situation seriously! I mean, who wouldn't want to be prepared for cyber attacks and drone sightings? It's about time they stepped up their game. I'm glad Bohlin is pushing for everyone to get on board with this, from civilians to the military. We can't just rely on our military to save us, we need a collective effort! And let's be real, if Sweden is doing it, other European countries should too!

I think its kinda wild that civ defence is getting more recognition now lol https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...ce-as-russia-puts-pressure-europe-2023-08-31/ ...anyway, Sweden's like the first one to acknowledge that grey zone aggression is a big deal. Russia's been playing dirty games for ages and now Europe needs to step up their game

just heard about this so what if everyone has a role to play in defence? like my mate's daughter is super into coding and she's always helping me out with these cyber attacks i feel like its all about sharing knowledge and skills instead of just blaming governments we should be able to support each other more than the military does. also, can you imagine what would happen if everyone was prepared for a disaster? it'd be like one big community effort

omg u guys i cant even lol grey zone aggression is like the most serious thing right now!! Sweden is taking it super seriously tho and they wanna make sure EVERYONE knows how to respond cuz its not just about the military anymore everyone needs to be on the same page and know what to do in case of an attack u feel? it makes total sense that they wanna start training civilians and getting them ready for this stuff i mean we cant just rely on our militaries alone anymore we gotta look out for each other too

I think its kinda trippy how we're living in a time where cyber attacks and disinformation are considered real threats . Like, what even is this new normal? We need to take these issues seriously and make sure everyone's on the same page. I'm all for Sweden leading the way on this, but at the end of the day, we're all in this together . It's not just about the military; it's about regular people having the skills to respond when things go sideways. We need more community-driven initiatives and public awareness campaigns to educate folks on how to protect themselves and their communities . The concept of grey zone aggression is so vague, though - what exactly does that mean for us?

I'm so worried about the grey zone aggression in Europe . I mean, think about it, Russia's always been a bit of a wild card, but now they're just getting more aggressive by the day. And we all know how that turns out...

So, Sweden's trying to step up their civil defence game, and I'm all for it ! We need to get the people on board, you know? Not just the military, but everyone's got a role to play in this. It's like they say, "United we stand, divided we fall"... or something like that

And what really gets my goat is when countries just sit back and wait for someone else to fix it . We need to be proactive, work together, and show the world what we're made of ! Sweden's taking a great lead on this one, but I hope others follow suit soon .

It's like I always say, "A strong defence is not just about guns and bombs, it's about the people and their preparedness"... or something like that . Anyway, let's get behind Sweden and show some support for their civil defence efforts!

Sweden is getting serious about this grey zone aggression thing . It's not just about the military having all the skills and knowledge, it needs a collective effort from everyone - and I'm not just talking about the tech-savvy folks . What's crazy is how quickly cyber attacks and disinfo can spread like wildfire in today's digital age. We need to think outside the box (or in this case, the bunker) when it comes to preparedness.

If Sweden is pushing for everyone to have a role to play, I'm all for that . It might mean some uncomfortable conversations about individual responsibilities, but trust me, it'd be way better than having to deal with the aftermath of an attack . Let's hope other European countries take note and join in on this proactive approach to civil defence .

Sweden is really stepping up its game when it comes to national security . I mean, cyber attacks and disinformation are like, super common now, and if you're not prepared, you can get totally caught off guard . It's awesome that they're making everyone aware of the importance of civil defence - I was just thinking that we need to take this stuff seriously, you know? It's not just about the military, it's about all of us being prepared to respond when things go down. And if Sweden can be a leader on this, that's pretty cool . They're showing that even small actions can make a big difference when we work together .

I think its a big deal when the Swedish government is emphasizing that everyone's gotta be part of their total defence concept . Like, we're not just talking about the military here , but also civilians who need to know how to respond in case of emergencies. It makes sense though, 'cause grey zone aggression is getting more serious and stuff .

We should all take this as a wake-up call to get prepared . Not just individually, but also as communities . We can't rely on the government alone to keep us safe . It's time for us to step up and learn how to defend ourselves . And if Sweden is leading the way by making this a big deal then yeah, let's get behind them .

But at the same time, I hope other European countries aren't feeling too much pressure . We need to work together on this or else it'll just be a waste of resources . We should be coordinating our efforts and sharing knowledge instead of pitting ourselves against each other . That's the way forward .

I don't usually comment but... I think it's kinda cool that they're making everyone contribute to Sweden's total defense concept . Like, who knew civil defense wasn't just for those in the military? It makes sense that civilians need to be equipped with some basic skills and knowledge too, especially since cyber attacks and disinfo are becoming super common. I mean, we've all seen how easily fake news can spread, right?

I think it's also good that Sweden is taking this seriously and playing a key role in shaping their security landscape. It's like, if they're not prepared for potential threats, who will be? And by working together with other European countries, they can kinda... I don't know, set a standard or something?

But for real though, I wish more countries would take this kind of proactive approach to civil defense. It's like, we should all be prepared for the unexpected, you know?

I'm low-key worried about Sweden's stance on grey zone aggression ... I mean, think about it, drone sightings are becoming more common and disinfo is spreading like wildfire online . It's not just about the military, we need to prep our civilians too . We gotta stay informed and know how to deal with these threats or else we'll be caught off guard . Sweden's trying to lead the way on this, but I hope they don't expect everyone to jump on board without any resources ... it's gonna take some serious investment from governments and individuals alike . We need to work together if we wanna stay safe in a world where threats are getting more aggressive by the day .