"We live in uncertain times. If we are attacked, we all must do our part to defend our independence and democracy. Our courage and willingness to defend our open society are vital, even if it requires certain sacrifices." Swedish citizens began receiving a manual in their mailboxes last Monday, prepared by the authorities and aimed at "all residents of the country" under the title 'If the War Crisis Comes'. Throughout its 32 pages, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) details clearly and with illustrations how ordinary citizens should be prepared in case of war or other threats: extreme weather events, dangerous pathogens, cyberattacks, infrastructure sabotage, blackouts, disinformation, and terrorist attacks. Their motto: "If Sweden is attacked, we will never surrender. Any suggestion to the contrary is false."
In many European Union countries, such manuals and the instructions they contain might seem dystopian. However, for the Nordic partners, they provide valuable information that they know should not be taken lightly and falls within their "normalcy," considering their historical context marked by their Russian neighbor, whose threat is becoming increasingly unpredictable. In fact, the publication of the manual coincides with an investigation opened on Tuesday for sabotage regarding the breaks in two submarine telecommunications cables in the Baltic Sea that connect Lithuania with Sweden and Finland with Germany. Additionally, the permission granted by Joe Biden (two months before the end of his term) for Kyiv to use American missiles on Russian territory crosses one of the red lines set by Vladimir Putin, who has just signed a new nuclear doctrine allowing a response to a conventional bombing on its territory with atomic weapons.
According to the Nordic self-defense doctrine, every member of society must contribute to building a resilient country against any crisis. There are several options: donating blood, completing a CPR course, disseminating advice and information in their community, or ensuring that their family, friends, or neighbors have the necessary supplies to survive without assistance from authorities for a full week. Population self-sufficiency is key in times of crisis to allow authorities to focus their initial efforts on addressing the contingency. Citizens must be familiar with the alert system to know how to react, even in the event of an aerial or nuclear attack, for which they should have the nearest shelter located and know what to bring in case of evacuation.
The Swedish manual urges to previously prepare homes, in case they cannot be left for several days. Every individual or family should have stored enough water (three liters per day), non-perishable food, blankets, candles, matches, cash, battery-powered radios, pet food, a list of important phone numbers on paper, and even a bucket with compost to maintain hygiene when performing basic needs, in case of water cuts and being unable to flush the toilet.
Nation defense is also psychological. Oslo warns against misinformation and propaganda as weapons of influence and social disruption, providing a series of recommendations to contribute to collective resilience (relying on official channels, verifying information through multiple sources, etc.). It even gives recommendations on coping with anxiety in difficult times and how to explain crisis or war situations to children.
Since the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Nordic countries have taken drastic measures such as abandoning decades of military non-alignment to join NATO and have accelerated the preparedness of their civilian population, something they have been doing for decades. In fact, the over five million manuals that Swedish households will receive over the next two weeks are an updated version of a document published in Sweden on five occasions since the Second World War, with the last one in 2018. "The security situation is serious, and we all need to strengthen our resilience to face various crises and, ultimately, war," explained the MSB director, Mikael Frisell, in a statement reported by Efe.
The Swedish Minister of Civil Defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, went further earlier this year by warning that "there could be a war in Sweden" considering the changed global context. Consequently, the information provided to Swedish households also had to reflect these changes to accelerate measures aimed at bolstering a strategy of "total defense," a strategy that their Finnish neighbor already has.
Comprehensive Security Strategy in Finland
In parallel with Sweden, the Finnish Ministry of the Interior also launched on Monday the online guide with instructions and similar recommendations to its population, 'Preparedness for Emergencies and Crises', prepared by about twenty institutions. This is a further step in their Comprehensive Security Strategy. A self-defense model that the country has been perfecting since its implementation in 1939, after the Winter War, where authorities, companies, NGOs, and citizens are collectively responsible for safeguarding the vital functions of society. In other words, ensuring the resilience of the entire country against any adversity and recovering quickly.
"Preparedness is a civic skill in the current global situation. When people know how to act in emergency situations, society's resilience to crises is well established," stated Kimmo Kohvakka, Director-General of the Rescue Services at the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, in a press release. In the Nordic country, with a border of over 1,300 kilometers with Russia, preparation for these types of threats is part of society's DNA, and around 58% of citizens comply with emergency supply storage recommendations. Additionally, it has a strong military - one of the largest in the EU - with 280,000 combat-ready personnel and 900,000 reservists thanks to mandatory military service. Over 80% of the population is willing to defend their country with weapons, according to data from the Ministry of Defense.
Other northern partners, like Norway, have also urged their citizens to be prepared to fend for themselves for a week in case of threats or crises. During the summer, the Danish emergency management agency sent detailed information via email on how to "manage on your own if a crisis situation occurs for three days."
The experience of the Nordics will be the guiding light for the 27 in the coming years, facing an increasing need for self-sufficiency in terms of Defense and Security. The former Prime Minister of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, has been tasked with preparing a report with proposals, demands, and recommendations for all European citizens to normalize preparedness to be able to cope with longer or shorter periods without services. "Most Europeans do not have enough supplies to survive for 72 hours. Guides need to be created and techniques offered," emphasized the former Finnish Prime Minister.