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!
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