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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Experts

Staff

Anna Wieslander

Director, Northern Europe

Europe Center

Defense Policy Disinformation

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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

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

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

In the News

Apr 14, 2022

Wieslander quoted in POLITICO on Swedish & Finnish NATO membership

By Anna Wieslander

“This is a period of vulnerability, and that has to be recognized and prepared for,” Anna Wieslander told Politico.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Apr 14, 2022

Wieslander interviewed by New York Times on Swedish & Finnish NATO membership

By Anna Wieslander

The New York Times writes, “However complicated NATO membership looks for Sweden politically, it would be dangerous to be left outside the alliance if Finland joins, since the two countries are each other’s closest defense partners and plan for war together, Ms. Wieslander, a Swede who is the Atlantic Council’s director for Northern Europe, said […]

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Apr 13, 2022

Wieslander interviewed by Swedish National Radio’s “USA Podcast” on Russia and NATO

By Anna Wieslander

Director for Northern Europe Anna Wieslander spoke about President Joe Biden calling Russia’s war in Ukraine a genocide as well as the history of NATO and the impact of the United States’ security blanket for small European states.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Apr 11, 2022

Wieslander joins “Brussels Sprouts” to talk about Swedish & Finnish NATO membership

By Anna Wieslander

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Apr 8, 2022

Wieslander quoted in Foreign Policy on Nordic NATO debate

By Anna Wieslander

“Although Finland is edging closer to NATO membership than Sweden, most analysts and diplomats agree that the countries are a package deal. If one joins, the other is likely to follow suit. Given their shared geography on the Scandinavian Peninsula—along with NATO member Norway—the alliance would prefer if the two countries joined at the same […]

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Apr 5, 2022

Wieslander quoted in Euronews on potential Swedish NATO membership

By Anna Wieslander

“I think we had a shift in public opinion as well as Finland did, but the Finns had a much larger shift” explains Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council. “One of the reasons we experts estimated that Sweden would move first is that since 2013 we had support that could be up to […]

Europe & Eurasia
NATO
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