Nordic nations rise as Europe’s new defence powerhouse

Nordic nations are now leading Europe's military transformation (Representative Image)

Earlier known for their peace missions and liberal states, the Nordic countries are emerging as prominent players on Europe's defence arena. With Russian aggression and weakening US security assurances in the Trump era, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden are reversing decades of disarmament and investing massively in defence infrastructure. They have emerged as two of Europe's top per capita military contributors to Ukraine and are pushing for a more autonomous security architecture less reliant on Washington, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Unified regional defence strategy

The four Nordic countries combined form an economic block with a GDP equivalent to that of Russia. The entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO has seen the region take bold measures towards defence consolidation. Sweden adds advanced weaponry technology, Norway adds Arctic expertise, Finland adds a robust standing army, and Denmark contributes high-ranking special forces with extensive combat experience.

The unity has been institutionalised in the Joint Nordic Air Command and Nordic Defense Cooperation (Nordefco) through a joint vision for the region's security until 2030. The alignment is more integrated than at any time since the Kalmar Union of the 15th century, suggesting a profound shift in threat perception and political will.

Urgency fuelled by Trump-era uncertainty

The threat on the horizon of a disaffected NATO, paired with the previous threats by Trump of annexation of Greenland, has instilled a sense of urgency to the Nordics' defence expenditure. Denmark, who owns Greenland, boosted its military budget by 70% in two years—a move widely portrayed as a response to the fading confidence in US military protection. Copenhagen now places regional cooperation at the forefront of its defence strategy because of its limited scope to defend its territories autonomously.

Modern military technology and special forces

Finland's readiness is staggering: it can mobilise 280,000 troops and has a massive number of civilian air raid shelters. Sweden's high-tech defence sector manufactures advanced tanks, aircraft, and infantry vehicles. Its gender-neutral conscription is highly competitive, making military service a strongly coveted goal. Norway, which was once reluctant to use its sovereign wealth fund to fund defence, has committed over $8 billion in aid to Ukraine.

The Danish model and nuclear pivot

Denmark's new defence strategy allows Ukraine to rent weapons from its domestic defence manufacturers using Danish funding. Denmark is also open to the previously unfathomable idea of hosting nuclear arms. Such moves are a marked deviation from typical Nordic defence strategies and have been applauded across NATO.

A united front—at least for now

While strategic divergence remains—such as Finland's hesitation to defend its Russian frontier vs. peacekeeping operations—the Nordics are as coordinated as ever. Their collaboration can serve as a template for regional security coalitions elsewhere, particularly in the Black Sea region.

As Finnish Institute of International Affairs' Matti Pesu sees it, "It's a potential Plan B if NATO doesn't work." As the Nordics are at the forefront of forging a new way forward in European defence, the region has proven to be an example of how nations that are smaller can be great by being together.