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The Northern Europe office works in particular on forging a strong US-Northern Europe agenda in light of the reinvigorated transatlantic relationship that has resulted from Finland’s accession into NATO and Sweden’s bid for membership. The office, headed by Anna Wieslander, participates in the public debate, provides analysis and publications, and arranges workshops, seminars, and conferences that bring together policymakers and a diverse group of stakeholders in order to forge solutions that address challenges critical to the future of Europe and the transatlantic relationship.

Featured commentary and analysis

Northern Europe Office

New Atlanticist Apr 26, 2023

A glimpse of Sweden in NATO: Gotland could be a game-changer for Baltic defense

By Anna Wieslander and Eric Adamson

Sweden’s largest military exercise in twenty-five years highlights the strategically important island of Gotland in defending NATO allies.
Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security
Northern Europe Office

New Atlanticist Feb 7, 2023

What would happen if Sweden and Finland split up their NATO bids?

By Eric Adamson and Minna Ålander

Finland proceeding without Sweden should be a last resort because of all the strategic and logistical difficulties it would create.
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
Northern Europe Office

Issue Brief Jan 6, 2023

How allied Sweden and Finland can secure Northern Europe 

By Anna Wieslander, Eric Adamson, Jesper Lehto

NATO is approaching its ninth round of enlargement. The accession of Sweden and Finland—two solid democracies and defenders of the international-rules based order—into the Alliance will strengthen the core of the transatlantic community.
Defense Policy NATO

Featured media mentions

January 31, 2023

Wieslander in Financial Times on potential solo Finnish NATO accession

“The focus now is to calm down the situation,” said Anna Wieslander, director for northern Europe at the Atlantic Council think-tank. “Swedish policymakers are still quite confident that Turkey will ratify . . . in the end, but they also realise that the road will continue to be bumpy.”

January 14, 2023

Wieslander in Le Monde on Sweden-Turkey NATO negotiations

Anna Wieslander believes that Stockholm and Helsinki had no other choice, but that the ball is now in Turkey’s court: “Sweden has gone as far as it could, even if the negotiations continue, the pressure will have to come from the other member states.”
January 12, 2023

Stockholm report quoted in Helsinge Sanomat

The Atlantic Council report “How allied Sweden and Finland can Secure Northern Europe” was featured in Finland’s largest newspaper “Helsinge Sanomat.”

Voices from the North Podcast

In this four-part podcast series, Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe in Stockholm, brings forth voices and perspectives of those studying and most affected by a changing Arctic. This podcast is part of a project made possible by the generous support of the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm. 

Northern Europe Office

Podcast Apr 22, 2022

Episode 1: “Living in the Arctic”

Anu Fredriksson, Executive Director for Arctic Frontiers, gives a local perspective on living in the Arctic. Anu is originally from Oulu in Northern Finland and has worked with Arctic issues for over a decade.
Climate Change & Climate Action Crisis Management
Northern Europe Office

Podcast Apr 22, 2022

Episode 2: “Russia and the Arctic”

Mathieu Boulègue, Senior Research Fellow for the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, takes a closer look at Russia’s deep ties to the Arctic and its posturing in the region.
Climate Change & Climate Action Crisis Management
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Anna Wieslander

Director, Northern Europe

Europe Center

Defense Policy Disinformation

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Public Event Tue, December 5, 2023 • 11:00 am ET

A conversation with the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Sweden Pål Jonson
Conflict Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Nov 28, 2023

Wieslander interviewed on Radio Sweden

P1 Morgon On November 28, NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels. Sveriges Radio speaks to Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council, discussing how close or far away Sweden is from NATO membership. In response to the question of whether Sweden is in too much of a hurry to become a NATO […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Nov 28, 2023

Wieslander on BerlinsideOut’s podcast

Northern Outlooks: New Germany-scepticism in the Nordics? On November 28, Anna Wieslander participated in BerlinsideOut’s podcast episode “Northern Outlook: New Germany-scepticism in the Nordics?”. Along with Minna Ålander, Tuomas Iso-Markku, and Kim Olsen she discussed Germany’s relationship with the Nordic countries of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. With Finland having joined NATO to counter the […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Oct 20, 2023

Wieslander participates in Riga Conference 2023

On Friday, October 20, Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe, attended the Riga Conference, organized by the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation in Riga. She participated in the Panel “Madrid, Vilnius, Washington – Milestones for NATO’s generational Change” together with David Cattler, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security, Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director, European Council on […]

NATO Northern Europe
Public Event Wed, October 18, 2023 • 2:00 pm ET

A conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia Margus Tsahkna
Conflict Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia European Union

In the News

Oct 4, 2023

Wieslander participates in Warsaw Security Forum

On Wednesday, October 4, Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe, attended the Warsaw Security Forum, hosted by the Casimir Pulas Foundation in Warsaw. She participated in the Panel “Baltic Sea – North Sea: Northern Maritime Dimension of NATO Collective Defence” together with Anne Marie Aanerud, State Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander of […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Aug 16, 2023

Wieslander interviewed on TV 4 Nyhetsmorgon

On Tuesday, August 15, Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe, participated in TV4 Nyhetsmorgon to discuss why Sweden’s entry into NATO is delayed. “The agreement coincided with the summer break of the parliaments that must ratify Sweden’s NATO membership. [Sweden] could, however, have worked faster than October, which has been suggested as the date for […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jul 16, 2023

Wieslander interviewed by Spanish La Razón

Anna Wieslander was interviewed on how Sweden will contribute to NATO’s collective security and the reaction from Russia. “Sweden has a modern and professional Armed Forces and an advanced defense industrial base. weden possesses a highly advanced air force, with the Swedish JAS Gripen fighter aircraft at its core. In addition, Sweden’s significant naval power, […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jul 15, 2023

Wieslander interviewed by Svenska Dagbladet

Wieslander explains that she worked on NATO standardization in the 1990s at the Swedish Ministry of Defence. There she was responsible for the work on the partnership that Sweden entered into with the alliance. “Nevertheless, for various reasons, the countries have chosen to make national solutions and variants of a lot of different things, and […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jul 15, 2023

Wieslander interviewed by Finnish YLE

“If Turkey had not given Sweden the green light, the Vilnius meeting could not have been considered a success. The negotiations between Sweden and Turkey were difficult and required diplomatic efforts. Ulf Kristersson’s government worked hard on them, alongside the allies and also Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg,” Wieslander told Finnish news outlet YLE.

NATO Northern Europe
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