Northern Europe Office

The Northern Europe Office of the Atlantic Council opened in Stockholm in the fall of 2016 as part of the Future Europe Initiative. This office has expanded the Council’s presence and serves as an important and consistent extension of the Council into the region.

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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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

Report

Aug 17, 2021

The UK, France, and the United States in Sweden’s vicinity: Strategic interests and military activities

By Anna Wieslander, Viktor Lundquist

As a response to the deteriorated security situation, following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine, the UK, France, and the United States have substantially increased their presence and engagement in Sweden’s vicinity.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Event Recap

Jul 30, 2021

Securing digital infrastructure: How transatlantic partners can lead transformative investment in global connectivity

By Alyxandra Marine

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Rep. Ro Khanna, and NSC Sr. Director Peter Harrell spoke at the Atlantic Council on challenges to securing infrastructure and the promise of a "trusted connectivity" approach.

China Cybersecurity

Transcript

Jul 14, 2021

Estonian Prime Minister H.E. Kaja Kallas on securing digital infrastructure with ‘trusted connectivity’

By Atlantic Council

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Rep. Ro Khanna, and NSC Sr. Director Peter Harrell speak at the Atlantic Council on challenges to securing infrastructure and the promise of a "trusted connectivity" approach.

China Cybersecurity

Transcript

Jun 30, 2021

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid on combating digital threats with ‘trusted connectivity’

By Atlantic Council

The Estonian president and Anne Neuberger, US deputy national security advisor for cybersecurity and emerging technology, appeared at the Atlantic Council to discuss the world's digital challenges ahead. Here's the full transcript.

Cybersecurity Internet
resilience, society

Report

May 3, 2021

A transatlantic agenda for homeland security and resilience beyond COVID-19

By Anna Wieslander

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disclosed the importance of resilient power – a society’s capability to absorb unexpected major shocks, handle and adapt to these, and then, most importantly, bounce back. As the pandemic still rages, endurance has become a major challenge for individuals, institutions, companies, and societies. It emphasizes another dimension of resilience: it is not only about how fast society is able to bounce back and recover at a certain moment, but also how it can withstand repeated shocks over time.

Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus

In the News

Apr 2, 2021

Wieslander as a panelist at Princeton University Center for International Security Studies (CISS) Annual Conference – “Europe and the Future of Security”
Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Mar 17, 2021

Wieslander moderates “Nordics and the High North: A collective defence and detterence outlook” at the British Embassy in Stockholm
Europe & Eurasia European Union
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