Northern Europe

Northern Europe holds great geostrategic importance to the transatlantic community as trade routes, emerging competition in the Arctic, and sustained Russian pressure make the region a key security concern for competing powers. Northern European states are active members of the transatlantic community, and they face similar concerns with their allies and partners: climate change, foreign influence campaigns, disinformation, and growing populist sentiment. Despite disagreements on fundamental policy issues, the United States must continue to engage its regional allies and partners.

Content

In the News

Mar 10, 2022

Sipher in the Bulwark: Will Ukraine turn out like Chechnya or Finland?

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2022

Swedish foreign minister: Women, girls disproportionately affected by conflict

By Katherine Golden

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde spoke at the Atlantic Council on International Women's Day about supporting Ukrainian women and girls and advocating for feminist foreign policy globally.

Conflict Northern Europe
Finland and NATO

Issue Brief

Mar 4, 2022

Europe’s security architecture, transformed: Why Finland is now on a path to join NATO

By Rasmus Hindrén

Finland is now on a prudent approach to NATO membership that is likely to build on its post-Cold War approach of continuity yet also to adapt to a new European security environment.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Mar 4, 2022

Wieslander interviewed by Deutsche Welle on the politics of NATO in Sweden

By Anna Wieslander

“You have a pretty polarized situation among the parties. You would have the right-wing leaning parties who are pro-NATO, then Red-Green who are against joining; and then you have the right-wing extremist party, the Swedish Democrats, the third-biggest party who are also against,” said Wieslander.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2022

Will Finland and Sweden join NATO now?

By Anna Wieslander, Christopher Skaluba

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shifted the political dynamics in the two militarily non-aligned Nordic states. Here's how a fast-track NATO process could look.

NATO Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Mar 2, 2022

Molotov Cocktails in winter: What 1939 Finland tells us about Ukraine today

By Ann Marie Dailey

But while Ukrainians may be prepping Molotov Cocktails, this winter war is already different.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Mar 1, 2022

Wieslander interviewed by Finnish STT on Nordic NATO debate

By Anna Wieslander

“If you compare the debate between Finland and Sweden, Finland is more actively discussing NATO. The [security] situation is closely monitored and decisions are made on the basis of that. In Sweden, we look back and think that the current policy has been stable and has served us well. Finland has a more flexible attitude,” […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Feb 26, 2022

Wieslander interviewed by Times Radio on Putin’s goals in Ukraine

By Anna Wieslander

“This is a game he is playing on two levels. One is Ukraine and the attack and invasion we now see him pursuing. The other is the bigger game, which is a Europe that is rolled back to the Cold War and where Russia has clear spheres of influence and buffer zones, which include Eastern […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Feb 24, 2022

Wieslander speaks to Marshall Center on “Sweden and Finland: Responses to the Russian Threat”

By Anna Wieslander

On the occasion of the Alumni in-residence-scholarship of Anna Wieslander, Director Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council, the Marshall Center organized an online seminar to analyze Sweden’s and Finland’s responses to Russia’s threats and aggression. Russia’s military attack on Ukraine on the same day made the seminar particularly relevant and timely.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2022

Transatlantic Telegram: Whatever happens next in Ukraine, a new European security order is emerging

By Ben Judah, Damir Marusic

The view from Vilnius, Lithuania, and Washington about a crisis that is both familiar and taking us into uncharted waters.

Conflict Eastern Europe

Experts