Breaking the Nordic Defense Deadlock

Russian actions in Ukraine in 2014 have prompted an urgent reassessment of the defense posture of many European nations. The Nordic states (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland) in particular are grappling with a 2-decade legacy of defense drawdowns and repositioning for expeditionary warfare. The challenge for these nations is how to resurrect a credible military deterrent in the face of continuing Russian assertiveness. One attractive option is closer defense cooperation between the Nordic states, but moves in this direction are slow and faltering. Political complications include the deeply ambivalent attitude of Sweden and Finland to the prospect of NATO membership. In this monograph, two leading Nordic defense experts assess the progress of cooperation to date, both within the region and externally with the United States, and offer specific recommendations for urgently enhancing both.

Since this text includes a narrative history of these countries beginning with World War II through the post- Cold War and to modern day times in year 2014, World War II and Cold War enthusiasts, military historians, political scientists, American diplomats, and policy makers can benefit from the history and recommendations by the authors to improve diplomatic relations with these Nordic countries as a way to build a coalition to underwrite regional security and to better understand Russia's intentions and capabilities. Master program students may be interested in this text for continued research on the roles of NATO and its' members, as well as greater understanding of building allies across the globe to strengthen America's strategic security missions worldwide.

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