NATO’s new map

The Nordic countries, once united under the Swedish crown, are now NATO members working to integrate their military forces, Foreign Policy reports. This includes redrawing NATO’s map to cover their combined territories under the alliance’s collective defense pledge, recognizing the strategic link between the Baltic Sea and the High North.

• Integrating the Nordic militaries involves logistical challenges, such as coordinating infrastructure and command structures. NATO’s command in Virginia must adapt to integrate these forces, while Norway, Finland, and Sweden work on creating unified military operations across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains.
• The Norwegian Coast Guard faces immense geographic challenges, patrolling a 63,000-mile coastline with limited resources. Norway relies on international support to maintain its presence in the Arctic, which is crucial for protecting its natural resources and countering Russian and Chinese interests in the region.
• With NATO’s expansion, the Nordic countries must adapt their strategies and infrastructure to defend against potential Russian aggression. This involves building new roads and ports, enhancing surveillance capabilities, and ensuring seamless military coordination across their territories. Even if it does all this, the region will continue to rely  heavily on U.S. support for its long-term security.