Nordic values are hard currency in defence policy

Hans Wallmark (M) chaired a roundtable discussion on Nordic defence policy in Oslo on Monday, which, in addition to politicians from the Nordic Council's Presidium, also included Norway's defence minister Ine Eriksen Søreide and the Nordic ambassadors, state secretaries, military officials and defence experts.

A recurring theme at the roundtable discussion was that Europe had changed after the annexation of the Crimea.

"The new Europe after the annexation of the Crimea can have relations with Russia again, but it will never be the same relationship as before", said Hans Wallmark.

"What distinguishes the new behaviour is that there is an outer threat with Russian soldiers and troops but also an inner threat in the form of a propaganda machine that produces lies and fabricates allegations".

According to Wallmark, it is important that the Nordic Region also co-operates in security policy with the adjacent areas such as the Baltic States, Poland and Germany.

Values from the West are a powerful counter weapon

Carolina Vendil Pallin, Head of Research at the Russian Programme at the Swedish Defence Research Institute confirms that Nordic Co-operation can have a powerful effect.  

"Nordic and European values are our hard currency, and that is what Russia is afraid of," said Vendil Pallin, at the roundtable discussion, when she gave a status report on the Russia that has arisen after the events in the Ukraine.

According to Vendil Pallin, Russia has advanced its positions and gradually violated international law and conventional warfare in a subtle way which different types of regional co-operation can help to put a stop to.

She also underlines the positive outlook that the sanctions against Russia will bite eventually and that Russia's leaders object to the consensus around the sanctions in the Nordic Region and Europe.

"On the negative side we cannot influence Russia, the change must come from within. I do not see any easy way forward for Russia. The Russian people will pay the price, amonst other things, in the form of poorer living standards," says Carolina Vendil Pallin.

The roundtable discussion on Nordic defence policy was organised for the second year in a row on the initiative of the Nordic Council. The meeting was held in Oslo on the occasion of Norway's Presidency of the Nordic Defence Co-operation NORDEFCO. The Nordic Council will follow up on the roundtable discussion at its Session in Stockholm on 28-30 October.