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North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

            http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nordics-russia-defence/nordic-nations-agree-on-defense-cooperation-
            against-russia-idUSKBN0N02E820150409

            The Russian government completely rejects the legitimacy of such an approach, notably as if the Nordics
            banded together they have enough capability to make the Russian agenda very difficult to succeed, and even
            more so as the West modernizes its forces.















            Figure 12 Dmitry Rogozin (in white jacket) went to the North Pole late April 18, 2015 after his controversial
            visit to Svalbard. The man to his right in red jacket is Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
            Sergey Donskoy. (Photo: from the Facebook profile of Dmitry Rogozin.)

            Reflective of the Russian stance is the position laid out by Artem Kureev in Russia Direct in a piece published
            on April 15, 2015.

            Kureev is identified as an expert from the Moscow-based think tank “Helsinki+” that deals with protecting
            interests of Russians living in the Baltic countries. Kureev graduated from Saint Petersburg State University’s
            School of International Relations.

            So what needs protecting?

            A detailed analysis of the document raises questions as to which parts are declarative in nature and which will
            actually be implemented. The four areas highlighted pertain to increasing the number of joint exercises,
            intelligence sharing, military industry, and combating cyber threats.

            The mechanisms needed to implement the initiatives in the declaration are lacking at present. Moreover, most of
            them require permanent cooperation and the establishment of coordination centers in the field of intelligence
            gathering and cyber security.

            Put another way, it is, in fact, a bid to set up a separate entity with its own staff, divisions and, it seems, head
            office. However, all this requires significant additional outlays and the signing of specific multilateral
            agreements. Yet such structures already exist within the NATO framework; for instance, Estonia’s cherished
            Cyber  Defense Center.

            It is more than likely that within the framework of enhanced cooperation all five Nordic countries will start taking
            an active part in the operations of these structures. However, it is clear that neither Stockholm nor Helsinki wants
            to play second fiddle to the Baltic countries and both are intent on creating their own agencies in the field of
            security in conjunction with the rest of Scandinavia. Hence, another cyber center could crop up on Russia’s borders
            within a few years.

            It is also quite possible that large-scale military exercises simulating a joint response to an attack from the East
            could be carried out with the Nordic countries.




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