Nordic Defence And Security Cooperation

– A New Arena for Regional Integration?

Presentation at the Kick off seminar for Nordic Forum for Security Policy 2014

by

Jacob Westberg

2013-08-15 STETE

Nordic Defence and Security cooperation

Changes in the European and global security environment following the end of the Cold War

The end of bipolarity and the ”normalisation” of defence policy in Europe• Existential territorial threats less likely, less immediate • Cuts in defence budgets • New opportunities for Nordic defence Cooperation

De-territorialised and widened view of security• Increased emphasis on non-state and transnational security threats related to failed states and regional conflicts outside Europe

• More emphasis on human and societal security and non-antagonistic threats

Multilateral defence and security cooperation (Cooperative security)• Cooperative security within UN, Nato and EU• Opportunities to share risks, cost and responsibility• Demands new military capabilities

2013-08-15 STETE

Nordic Defence and Security cooperation

Increased pressures for multilateral defence integration

Increased relevance of Nordic defence

cooperation

The EU:s political & economic

crisis

Asymmetric trends in defence

spending

The ‘critical mass problem’

US re-balancing & increased

demands for burden sharing

2013-08-15 STETE

Nordic Defence and Security cooperation

Nordic defence and security cooperation: Some comparative advantages and lessons from

the European integration process

Comparative advantages:• A small group of like minded

countries ...• Geographic proximity• Similarity in strategic culture

after all ...• Positive experience of

cooperation in other policy areas

Lessons from the European integration process:

• Focus on pragmatic interests & benefits, not big ideals!

• Functional & political spill over works!

• Keep the cooperation small and flexible!

• Avoid unnecessary 2-level games conflicts and sovereignty traps!

• Don’t be afraid of dependencies – they may be the key to trust!