Page 13 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

Brexit and the US election, however, happened at home. Inside our own house, so to speak. The British people
voted. The American people voted. And the results took many of us by surprise.

Brexit and the US election were two very different things, and I think we should be careful to compare them
as such. But one thing they had in common is that they revealed a significant level of frustration and discontent
amongst a lot of people. And that is something we’re seeing not only in the UK and the US, but in many
European countries.

If I am to suggest common denominators between Crimea, Brexit and the US elections concerning security in
Northern Europe, it must be this:

They were all major wake-up calls, albeit for different reasons.

They have all introduced uncertainty at some level.

FIGURE 1 MS. INE ERIKSEN SOREIDE. CREDIT: NORWEGIAN MOD
And they have all set in motion change and developments that we do not know the extent of.

Ladies and gentlemen, we find ourselves in a time of political, economic and social disruption.

The world, as we have known it for decades, is changing. And it’s changing rapidly…..

Perhaps the liberal democracy, with all its dilemmas and compromises, is the best form of government we are
capable of designing. After all, it has enabled economic growth, prosperity, peace and stability between
nations for decades.

But it seems we may have arrived at a time in history where the liberal democracy, as we know it, is facing
one of its most serious challenges to date.

The very framework of a stable Europe and transatlantic relationship is under pressure.

Right-wing populism is on the rise in many countries, paving the way for different forms of nationalism.

Liberal, democratic ideals of freedom, equality and inclusion are losing terrain to ideals of the opposite.
We are witnessing more distrust between people and a deteriorating belief in democratic institutions,
politicians and the media.

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