Northern Europe

Former Finnish Defense Minister Rehn: I am No Longer Sure About the Strength of NATO

By Lithuania Tribune

The chief editor of The Lithuania Tribune Ruslanas Iržikevičius talked to Elisabeth Rehn, former Minister of Defence of Finland.

Modernizing the Military: The Case of Norway

Despite its relatively small size, Norway punches above its weight in defense investment and leadership in NATO operations at a time when many European countries are cutting defense budgets and turning inward. ​Norway is at the forefront of NATO’s efforts to modernize military forces and enhance interoperability to ensure the Alliance’s continued effectiveness in a new security landscape.

Enhanced Swedish-Finnish Defense Cooperation?

By Pauli Järvenpää, RKK/ICDS

When President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt met at the Sälen security conference on 12-14 January, they told the media they agreed on two things in particular: one, NATO membership for neither Finland nor Sweden was topical at the moment and, two, both of them supported enhanced defense cooperation between these two Nordic […]

Finland Orders $123 Million Worth of Stinger Missiles

By Helsinki Times

Finland is set to acquire hundreds of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles from the United States, Carl Haglund (SFP), the Minister of Defence, announced to US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel as the two met in Washington

Finnish Defense Minister: EU will Never Become Europe’s Primary Defense Forum

By Jorge Benitez, Atlantic Council

During his trip to Washington to meet with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Finnish Defense Minister Carl Haglund sat down for an exclusive interview with Director of NATOSource Jorge Benitez.

Finland’s Defense Minister on Regional Defense Cooperation and the Transatlantic Link

By Carl Haglund, Ministry of Defense of Finland

I would like to begin my remarks by highlighting the two key security partnerships that Finland has: the strong bilateral relationship with the United States and the active partnership we have with the Atlantic Alliance.

Finland & NATO: Strategic Cooperation

As Arctic ice recedes the world increasingly eyes the area for natural resources and maritime shipping lanes. NATO’s members and partners in the region are strategically poised to influence the region as it moves from tundra to territory, as militaries come to view the Arctic in a strategic context and various militaries increase their presence […]

Finland Buys One Hundred Tanks from the Netherlands

By Defense Update

Finland and the Netherlands have agreed to transfer most of the remaining stock of Dutch Leopard 2A6 Main Battle Tanks (MBT) to Finland over a period of four years, for amount around €200 million.

Between A Rock and a Cold Place? NATO and the Arctic

By Page Wilson

At a press conference marking the visit of the North Atlantic Council to Norway in May, Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced that “at this present time, NATO has no intention of raising its presence and activities in the High North.”

Sweden Considers Broader Alliances with NATO, EU

By Gerard O’Dwyer, Defense News

Recognizing that its self-defense capabilities are becoming inadequate, Sweden is shifting its strategic policy to embrace partnerships beyond its Nordic neighborhood, including NATO and the European Union.