Content

Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist, March 26, 2014

NATOSource

Mar 13, 2015

Sweden Plans to Increase Military Spending

By Wall Street Journal and AFP

From Charlie Duxbury, Wall Street Journal:  The Nordic state has seen its airspace violated by Russian military jets on a number of occasions and the appearance of a mystery foreign submarine in Swedish waters last fall further raised tensions.

Northern Europe Russia
Swedish soldier, Nov. 14, 2010

NATOSource

Mar 13, 2015

Sweden Sending Troops to Strategic Baltic Island Amid Russia Tensions

By Richard Milne, Financial Times

Sweden will put troops back on the strategic Baltic Sea island of Gotland after a decade-long absence as increased sabre-rattling from Russia unnerves the region.

Northern Europe Russia
Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Feb. 4, 2015

NATOSource

Mar 2, 2015

Norwegian Defense Minister: NATO Decision Making Process Too Slow To Deal with Emerging Crises

By Mick Krever, CNN

Western relations with Russia will never again be the same after the war in Ukraine, Norwegian Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday.

NATO Northern Europe
Soldiers from Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Motorised Infantry Battalion, Dec. 31, 2001

NATOSource

Feb 24, 2015

Worried About Russia, Lithuania Reinstates Military Conscription

By Liudas Dapkus, AP

Lithuania will restore compulsory military service for young men as tensions in Ukraine continue to worry the small Baltic nation, the government said Tuesday.

Northern Europe Russia

In the News

Feb 21, 2015

Seip: Accepting the Invitation

By Mark Seip

Scowcroft Center Navy Senior Fellow Mark Seip writes for foreign language newspaper the Helsinki Times on Finland participating in air exercises with the United States:

Northern Europe
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dec. 8, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 19, 2015

Putin a Threat to Baltic States, Western Officials Say

By Andrew Osborn, Reuters

Senior Western officials accused Russia on Thursday of redrawing the map of Europe by force and posing a threat to the Baltic states.

NATO Northern Europe
British Defense Minister Michael Fallon, Aug. 16, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 19, 2015

Putin Will Target Baltic Republics Next, UK Defense Minister Warns

By Ben Farmer, Telegraph

There is a “real and present danger” that Vladimir Putin will launch a campaign of undercover attacks to destabilise the Baltic states on Nato’s eastern flank, the Defence Secretary has warned.

NATO Northern Europe
German soldiers training for mission in Kosovo, Jan. 28, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 19, 2015

German Soldiers Used Broomsticks Instead of Guns During NATO Exercise

By Telegraph, Washington Post, and the Local (Germany)

From Justin Huggler, Telegraph:  German soldiers used broomsticks painted black instead of guns during a joint Nato exercise last year due to severe equipment shortages, it has emerged.

Germany NATO
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Nov. 22, 2013

NATOSource

Feb 5, 2015

Putin Could Attack Baltic States Warns Former NATO Chief

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, Telegraph

Vladimir Putin has dangerous ambitions beyond Ukraine and aims to test Western resolve in the Baltic states, the former head of Nato has warned.

NATO Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2015

Ukraine Needs Support Now, Latvian Foreign Minister Says

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Rinkēvičs cites urgent need for backing on territorial integrity, economy Ukraine requires strong support for its territorial integrity and economy well before an Eastern Partnership summit in Riga in May, according to Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs. Describing Ukraine as the “biggest challenge,” Rinkēvičs said, “we need to address some issues now, in January, in […]

European Union International Organizations

Experts