On September 2, huge fighter jets thunder in over central Stockholm. Everyone’s eyes are directed towards the roar from above. Three Swedish JAS Gripens look small next to the large American bombers flying low over the hulls.
The display is part of an exercise aimed at scaring Russia, just enough. The strategy is called deterrence, and it involves showing the enemy what you can do, without provoking.
Failed method in Ukraine
Sweden is mentioned as the new favorite haunt of American bombers and seeing bombers may become an increasingly common sight for us.
But deterrence as a strategy is complex, and the method failed in Ukraine. Why is it really so hard to know when deterrence works?
Participating
Hans Kristensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists
Stefan Lundqvist, commander captain and teacher of military science at the Defense Academy
Karl Sorenson, deterrence researcher and senior analyst at the Total Defense Research Institute
Lisa Hultman, professor of peace and conflict research at Uppsala University
Host: Bo Torbjörn Ek and Ulrika Bergqvist
Producer: Karin Hållsten
Technician: Mats Jonsson
Archive sound from: Swedish radio, CNN, SVT, Euronews