Sweden's armed forces have formally asked the government to expropriate a property near the Muskö Naval Base, citing security concerns. The military's request for the seizure of the beach plot in the Stockholm archipelago specifically mentions "the threat from Russian drones and the ownership situation of the property."
Swedish reports indicate that a businessman with alleged links to the Russian state has been constructing a luxury house on Muskö island. His wife, who possesses both Russian and Swedish citizenship, is the registered owner of the property and has reportedly owned it since 2017.
The military stated that the location offers "unique conditions for strengthening the defence of Muskö Naval Base, particularly against drones," adding that the evolution of Russian drone warfare has "changed the threat landscape for Sweden." Defence Minister Pål Jonson emphasised the need to "make sure there's no risk of anyone gaining visibility into the site or any kind of tactical edge."
Chief of the Defence Staff Carl-Johan Edström was quoted in the armed forces' statement, saying that Sweden is "facing the most serious security situation since the end of World War Two." Sweden joined Nato two years ago following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ending two centuries of military non-alignment.