| Gotland Battlegroup | |
|---|---|
| Stridsgrupp Gotland | |
 | |
| Active | 2017–present |
| Country |  Sweden |
| Branch |  Swedish Army |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | Gotland Regiment (peacetime) Army Staff (wartime) |
| Headquarters | Visby Garrison, Gotland |
| Beret colour | Black |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Col Dan Rasmussen |
The Gotland Battlegroup [a] or the 18th Battlegroup is a reduced Swedish Army mechanised brigade based in Gotland County. It has been active since 2017. The battlegroup is headquartered at Visby Garrison.
Policies introduced under the Defence Act of 2015 mandated the remilitarisation of Gotland by 2018. [1] However, in direct response to Russian aggression and the deteriorating geopolitical situation in the Baltic Sea, the battlegroup was established in 2017, one year earlier than planned. [2]
The decision to remilitarise the island and establish a unit comparable to a reduced brigade [3] was primarily intended to deter potential small-scale attacks and to delay larger assaults long enough for reinforcements and additional units to arrive. [4]
Given the battlegroup’s specialised role, it is not intended for deployment outside the island and will maintain a permanent presence to deter any attempts at occupation. [5]
As of 2022, the planned wartime organisation of Battlegroup Gotland at full operational capacity is as follows, with full capability expected to be reached by 2028: [6]
The commanders of the brigade throughout its history are as follows:
| Name | Translation | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stridsgrupp Gotland | Gotland Battlegroup | 2017-07-01 | – | |
| Designation | From | To | ||
| SG GTL | 2017-07-01 | – | ||
| Location | From | To | ||
| Visby Garrison | 2017-07-01 | – |