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.

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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. 

Experts

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In the News

May 14, 2022

Wieslander quoted in Bloomberg on Turkish objections to NATO expansion

“I don’t foresee that they will in the end make it impossible for Sweden and Finland to join NATO,” Anna Wieslander said. Their accession “will increase security not only in northern Europe but for the alliance as a whole and Turkey knows that.”

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 13, 2022

Wieslander speaks with public radio’s “The World” on Finnish and Swedish NATO membership

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 13, 2022

Wieslander speaks with CNN on Finnish and Swedish NATO membership

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 13, 2022

Wieslander speaks with CNBC International on Finnish and Swedish NATO membership

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 11, 2022

Wieslander interviewed by The Guardian on Swedish and Finnish NATO membership

By Anna Wieslander

“Although Johnson’s key guarantee is necessarily a political declaration, as opposed to an international treaty guarantee, the British commitment was of high value at a time of great tension, Anna Wieslander, the Atlantic Council’s northern Europe director said.”

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 5, 2022

Wieslander quoted in Financial Times on NATO application security dilemmas

By Anna Wieslander

The period between a NATO application and Article 5 security guarantees poses several security dilemmas for Sweden and Finland. “By various informal steps and declarations in this period by major allies and working with NATO, I think we’ll get through this period,” she told the Financial Times.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Apr 30, 2022

Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

By Anna Wieslander

With Finland expected to join NATO, the High-North and Baltic Sea region “will all be one military-strategic arena now, especially if you look from the Russian side,” said Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council. “Putin miscalculated,” she said. “This is not what he foresaw.”

Europe & Eurasia NATO
Chinese icebreaker Xuě Lóng (Snow Dragon)

Podcast

Apr 27, 2022

Episode 3: “The Geopolitical Arctic”

Dr. Camilla Tenna Nørup Sørensen, Associate Professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, discusses the changing geopolitical dynamics of the Arctic.

China Northern Europe

Podcast

Apr 26, 2022

Episode 4: “Military Dilemmas in the Arctic”

Dr. David P. Auerswald, Professor of Security Studies at the U.S. National War College, takes a closer look at military activity in the Arctic and the associated risks of the region’s increased militarization.

Conflict Maritime Security

In the News

Apr 25, 2022

Wieslander quoted by Financial Times on the politics of NATO in Sweden

By Anna Wieslander

“It is very much part of the Social Democrat identity — it gave us a special space of manoeuvre in international politics in terms of mediation, peace talks and arms control. That’s the main explanation of why we’re acting so slowly now,” says Anna Wieslander, director for northern Europe at the Atlantic Council.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

The Europe Center promotes leadership, strategies, and analysis to ensure a strong, ambitious, and forward-looking transatlantic relationship.