Thread by @minna_alander

NATO’s new Strategic Concept identifies Russia as the main security threat in Europe and brings NATO back to its roots: territorial defence in Europe.

I wrote for @nupinytt what 🇫🇮🇸🇪 NATO accession & future of Nordic security looks like in that context:
nupi.no/content/downlo…

🇫🇮🇸🇪 membership application came just at the right time: without the two new Allies, NATO would be hard pressed to deliver on the promise to “defend every inch of Allied territory at all times” in the Nordic-Baltic region. Now, we are looking at a unified strategic sphere.

While it is important to address e.g. the Southern flank Allies’ concerns about a “Nordic(-Baltic) club” within the Alliance, a certain degree of regionalisation will likely be even unavoidable, when making defence plans for the Baltic Sea and Arctic.

Finland, Sweden and Norway know the Arctic region and the particularities of winter warfare best. Hence, regional specialisation makes sense, as the Nordic-Baltic region directly neighbours Russia and needs to be able to hold its defence line - at least until other Allies arrive.

From a 🇫🇮 perspective, if in 2007 then-Defence Minister Jyri Häkämies identified Finland’s 3 main security threats to be Russia, Russia, and Russia, this year Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto increased the number of threats to include 5 times Russia, namely:

In the current security environment, Finland will be a remarkable Ally: the 🇫🇮 Defence Forces have had a continuous focus on territorial defence even after the Cold War, when most European NATO countries adopted the expeditionary force model and scaled down their armies.

It gives Finland a headstart now that the 🇫🇮 analysis of security threats (= Russia) in the region has proven accurate. Having kept up conscription, Finland now has a reserve of 870,000 (wartime strength 280,000). Ukraine has shown that besides missiles, you also need people.

Finland has been (& is) investing in artillery and air defence, and you only need to look to 🇺🇦 to know why.

Both 🇫🇮&🇸🇪 have a whole society approach to defence (🇫🇮 “comprehensive security”, 🇸🇪 “total defence”) which will be a useful resource for NATO. We’ll be #StrongerTogether