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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In the News

Jan 8, 2022

Wieslander quoted in Finnish YLE News on Russian negotiations

By Anna Wieslander

Ahead of US and NATO talks with Russia, Anna Wieslander spoke to the Finnish news outlet YLE on the risks of negotiations as well as NATO allies’ fatigue and fears of enlargement. “It is an uncomfortable situation that the West is negotiating with [Russia] at gunpoint…[and] a very bad situation for Finland and Sweden if […]

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Jan 7, 2022

Wieslander on Swedish & Finnish NATO enlargement in RUSI interview

By Anna Wieslander

Sweden and Finland’s freedom to potentially join NATO was recently challenged by Russia. Anna Wieslander spoke with Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) about the reactions in Stockholm and Helsinki. “Overall, Sweden’s response has not been at the same high level of state officials as the response in Finland. One key explanation for this is that […]

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

Event Recap

Dec 14, 2021

Developing the EU’s industrial strategic capacity under rising geopolitical tensions

On December 14th, the EU Commission’s Representation in Sweden and the Atlantic Council’s Northern Europe Office held the event “Developing the EU’s industrial strategic capacity under growing geopolitical tensions.”  Speakers included:  Björn Fägersten, Swedish Institute of International Afairs (UI) Charlotte Andersdotter, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise Ulf Pehrsson, Ericsson Per Altenberg, Swedish National Board of Trade  […]

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

Event Recap

Dec 2, 2021

The new German government and Sweden: Implications for European security and defence

On December 2nd, The Atlantic Council’s Northern Europe office in Stockholm and the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) held a breakfast roundtable entitled, “The new German government: Implications for European security and defence.” The discussion was held shortly after the Swedish parliament voted in its first female prime minister and Germany was awaiting the “traffic […]

European Union
Germany

Event Recap

Nov 16, 2021

Webinar: The Russian Federation- Challenges and Trends Impacting Central and Northern European Security

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Stockholm, together with the Atlantic Council Northern Europe Office, organised a timely webinar on November 16th. Taking place as the border crises between Poland and Belarus escalated, the webinar’s main goal was to discuss the security outlook for Central and […]

Belarus
Central Europe

In-Depth Research & Reports

Oct 25, 2021

AUKUS: The Impact on the Transatlantic Partnership — Wieslander in ISDP Report

By Anna Wieslander

This Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) special publication brings together a number of experts from Europe and Asia to discuss the implications of AUKUS for Europe. AUKUS is a critical geopolitical development. It has complex chapters attached to it. Therefore, any assessment of the AUKUS has to be understood from a comprehensive perspective, […]

Australia
China

Article

Oct 21, 2021

“The Hultqvist Doctrine”: Swedish security and defence policy after the Russian annexation of Crimea — Wieslander in Defence Studies journal

By Anna Wieslander

Abstract: “This article analyses how Sweden has adapted to the worsened security situation in its vicinity following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and war in Eastern Ukraine. The paper builds on security policy research focused on neoclassic realism and small state strategies in order to explore how the, broadly unknown, security policy from 2009 has […]

Europe & Eurasia
NATO Partnerships

Event Recap

Oct 6, 2021

Baltic Sea Security Conference 2021

The fourth international Baltic Sea Security Conference (BSSC) on October 5-6, 2021, organized by the Atlantic Council Northern Europe Office in cooperation with the Swedish Armed Forces, took place with a new 2021-2025 Swedish Total Defence strategy in place. The BSSC was thus a timely platform for representatives of the Nordic and Baltic states, Germany, […]

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Sep 3, 2021

Wieslander gives keynote address at Marshall Center European Security Seminar

The seminar “Cooperation or Confrontation in the High North” developed a broader understanding of regional perspectives on the European High North and Baltic region. A keynote address by Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council, highlighted strategic interests and military activities in the region. 

Climate Change & Climate Action
Conflict

In the News

Aug 23, 2021

Wieslander quoted in New York Times on Afghanistan

“The withdrawal fiasco will revive the strategic autonomy argument, but the best result, she said, would be ‘a European pillar in NATO’ that could — with major investment — provide some of the strategic airlift, surveillance, reconnaissance and command and control that only the Americans now provide. ‘If we want more capacity and burden-sharing,’ Ms. […]

Afghanistan
Europe & Eurasia
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