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Jul 1, 2022

Wieslander cited in New York Times on European unity over Ukraine

“Anna Wieslander, the Swedish director for Northern Europe for the Atlantic Council, said that although support for Ukraine had mostly held across the alliance, it was uneven: strongest in nations with long experience and deep fears of Russian domination, like Poland and the Baltic states, and more difficult to maintain in countries like Belgium, the […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jul 1, 2022

Wieslander quoted in New York Times on NATO’s changed geostrategic reality

“Referring to the changing geostrategic reality wrought by February’s invasion, Anna Wieslander, the Swedish director for Northern Europe for the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think-tank, said the shift toward collective defense was much bigger than previously seen. ‘It really is a before Feb. 24 and after,’ she said, referring to the date of Russia’s invasion […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jun 30, 2022

Wieslander speaks at NATO Public Forum in Madrid

On June 29th, Director for Northern Europe Anna Wieslander spoke at the NATO Public Forum in Madrid on the panel “Ambiguous Threats, Determined Responses: Countering Hybrid Threats against NATO Allies.” Ms. Wieslander discussed Sweden’s total-defence strategy along with panelists Lieutenant General Hans-Werner Wiermann, Director General for NATO International Military Staff and Irene Fellin, Special Representative […]

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Anna Wieslander serves as director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council and head of the Atlantic Council office in Stockholm. She is also chair of the Institute for Security and Development Policy, a Stockholm-based think tank with a focus on Central Asia and Asia. Wieslander concurrently serves as secretary general of the Swedish Defence Association, a nonpolitical nongovernmental organization which for more than 130 years has promoted knowledge on defence and security among the Swedish public. She is a lifetime member of the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences and the Swedish Society for International Affairs. She is an adjunct professor at George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, a founding member of the Alphen Group, and a member of RUSI European Security Advisory Group. 

Wieslander is a frequent keynote speaker, lecturer, and panelist at international conferences and comments in national and international mass media, such as the New York Times, BBC, Time, Politico, Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times. She also publishes extensively related to current international affairs.

Wieslander was previously deputy director at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs. She has held positions as head of the speaker’s office in the Swedish Parliament, secretary of the Swedish Defence Commission, and deputy director of the Swedish Defence Ministry. She has also served as communications director in the private sector. 

Wieslander holds a PhD in political science from Lund University and a degree in journalism from Gothenburg University. Her expertise is in security and defence policy, Northern Europe security, NATO, and issues affecting the defense industry.