Northern Europe

Wieslander quoted in Financial Times on Sweden-Finland NATO debate

“I used to think that Sweden would have to take the lead, as we’re the biggest Nordic country. But given how the dynamics are now, I would bet more that it could start moving quicker in Helsinki than Stockholm,” said Wieslander.

Wieslander interviewed on Gotland’s strategic importance by Belgian VRT

Wieslander quoted in New York Times on NATO cohesion & Russia

“Deterring Russia is in the DNA of NATO, because Russia is what can bring existential threats to European nations,” said Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe. “Russia is targeting our elections, our social media, our parliaments and our citizens, and it is become more obvious now that Russia is not part of our value system.”

Wieslander in Carnegie Europe’s “Judy Asks: Can diplomacy rescue European security?”

“There is something utterly disturbing about a situation where the perpetrator demands security guarantees and those under threat are willing to discuss them: an Alice-In-Wonderland-Upside-Down kind of feeling,” wrote Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe.

Wieslander interviewed by Radio Sweden on Russian demands

By Anna Wieslander

Russia’s demands that NATO should not expand any further, or face the consequences, has raised concerns over the security of the two Nordic non-NATO members Sweden and Finland. “This is very troublesome for Sweden… and it is not the first time Russia has done this,” Wieslander said.

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 […]

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 […]

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  […]