The Swedish military has held its first exercise on a key strategic point on the Baltic Sea since the country joined NATO last month. Sweden is strengthening its defenses amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The exercise has been held on Gotland Island, and it was open to the media on Monday.
The island, which has a population of more than 60,000, is located at the center of the Baltic Sea and has been a key strategic point. It was occupied by Imperial Russia in the early 19th Century.
The island is also strategically important for NATO, which aims to defend the three Baltic countries nearby: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The three are all members of the alliance, and they have been increasing their vigilance of Russia.
The drill, which was designed to simulate a response to the landing of Russian troops on the island, involved about 200 Swedish soldiers stationed there. It included live-fire exercises and shelling drills involving tanks that are the same type as those that were given to Ukraine.
Lieutenant Colonel Andreas Lunde, who commanded the exercise, said he believes that the threat to Gotland is "multifaceted." He said possible military operations against the island could take shapes and forms that his side is not aware of.
He said the troops are finding that they are "a part of something vital for the nation and for the alliance." Lunde added that the soldiers are training hard.
On Tuesday, senior officials from the Swedish military and NATO are scheduled to discuss plans for future coordinated efforts on the island.
The two parties are expected to strengthen combat readiness.