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 Wed, March 4, 2020 • 10:30 am ET

Completing Europe: Central Europe, the Three Seas Initiative and the future of the transatlantic relationship
Central Europe Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia European Union

Event Recap

Oct 8, 2019

Securing Northern Europe

On September 20, 2019, the Atlantic Council Northern Europe organized a seminar highlighting the launch of a new issue brief titled ‘Securing Northern Europe: Toward A Comprehensive Approach’. Director for Northern Europe Anna Wieslander and Project Assistant Elin Schiffer presented the report for an audience consisting of invited members of parliament, civil servants, foreign diplomats […]

Northern Europe
Wed, July 10, 2019 • 8:45 am ET

The US-Latvian relationship in a time of European transition
Northern Europe

Event Recap

Mar 28, 2019

Seminar on fighting disinformation by democratic means

By Atlantic Council

The seminar brought together journalists, academic experts, civil society and representatives of government and organizations to discuss the challenge presented by disinformation and different ways to improve resilience ahead of a string of elections in Europe during 2019.

Disinformation Northern Europe

Event Recap

Feb 19, 2019

Seminar: Disinformation in electoral contexts

By Elin Schiffer

On February 19, 2019, the Atlantic Council in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden in Vilnius organized a seminar on the threats of disinformation in electoral contexts. Information influence campaigns presenting challenges or threats to public elections are an increasing concern in Sweden, Lithuania and the rest of the EU. Sweden and Lithuania, both being […]

Disinformation European Union

Event Recap

Dec 11, 2018

Conference on the European defense and security dimension in Northern Europe

By Elin Schiffer

On December 11, 2018, the Atlantic Council Northern Europe Office and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, in collaboration with the Latvian Embassy in Sweden, organized a high-level, public international conference on ’The European Defence and Security Dimension in Northern Europe’. The conference brought together policy experts, academic researchers, representatives of government and organizations and media from a significant […]

Defense Policy NATO

Event Recap

Dec 6, 2018

Seminar on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of NATO

By Elin Schiffer

On December 6 the Atlantic Council Northern Europe Office, in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Stockholm, organized a seminar titled ”NATO at 70: How to Navigate in A Turbulent World”. The seminar was attended by experts representing both Swedish governmental institutions, the Stockholm diplomatic corps, and think-tanks.  The closed half-day […]

NATO Northern Europe

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