The Nordic States, NATO and the EU in Arctic Security

This timely book explores the nuances of the Nordic states’ approach to security in the Arctic and their relationships with NATO and the EU. Challenging generalisations of the Arctic as peaceful and self-contained, it illustrates how Arctic security is fragmented by global geopolitics and conflicting interests.

Expert contributors discuss the differing security priorities and approaches across Nordic countries – the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – and assess how these are shaped by their individual relationships with both NATO and the EU, leading to a nuanced interplay of cooperation and competition. They emphasize how increased security tensions have brought Arctic security issues to the fore and encouraged the Nordic nations to adopt a more united stance in relation to Arctic security. While the book largely concentrates on military-focused and state-centric security, it also considers alternative strategies, including human and environmental security, as well as the link between different types of security and safety in the Arctic.

This book is an enlightening read for scholars engaged in Arctic affairs, geopolitics, the Nordic countries, the EU and NATO. The discussions and topics tackled are also directly relevant for officials working on Arctic governance issues and international negotiations.