Showing posts with label Nordic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nordic. Show all posts

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Nordic, Baltic, Arctic 2025

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24-11-27 Ruscia [attempting to change] Baltic Sea borders - Caspian > .
25-1-24 [Greenland's Military-Strategic Value] - Binkov > .
25-1-15 [Greenland's Value: Arctic Geostrategy, Natural Resources] - Warfronts > .
20-3-24 Europe’s plan to checkmate Russia - Caspian > .

Monday, April 15, 2024

Nordic Council

22-12-10 Sweden's joining NATO would crush Russian power - Caspian > .
22-7-5 How Norway Became Insanely Rich - Dodging Oil Curse - Casual Scholar > .
22-6-12 Estonian Military Vulnerabilities - Task > .
22-3-10 Sweden's pro-NATO reaction to Russian aggression - Force Tech > .
22-2-22 Poland vs. France: Can EU Create Alternative to NATO? - VisPol > .
Sweden's Strategic Posture. Will the Swedes Join NATO? - gtbt > .> Nordic Militaries >>
Nordic societies 
24-4-5 Denmark - The State of Happiness - Lesley Riddoch > .

Nordic Council ..

The Nordic Council is the official body for formal inter-parliamentary Nordic cooperation among the Nordic countries. Formed in 1952, it has 87 representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden as well as from the autonomous areas of the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and the Åland Islands. The representatives are members of parliament in their respective countries or areas and are elected by those parliaments. The Council holds ordinary sessions each year in October/November and usually one extra session per year with a specific theme. The council's official languages are Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Swedish, though it uses only the mutually intelligible Scandinavian languages—Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish—as its working languages. These three comprise the first language of around 80% of the region's population and are learned as a second or foreign language by the remaining 20%.

In 1971, the Nordic Council of Ministers, an intergovernmental forum, was established to complement the council. The Council and the Council of Ministers are involved in various forms of cooperation with neighbouring areas in Northern Europe, including the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, the Benelux countries, the Baltic states and Russia.

During WW2, Denmark and Norway were occupied by Germany; Finland was under assault by the Soviet Union; while Sweden, though neutral, still felt the war's effects. Following WW2, the Nordic countries pursued the idea of a Scandinavian defence union to ensure their mutual defence. However, Finland, due to its Paasikivi-Kekkonen policy of neutrality and FCMA treaty with the USSR, could not participate.

It was proposed that the Nordic countries would unify their foreign policy and defence, remain neutral in the event of a conflict and not ally with NATO, which some were planning at the time. The United States, keen on getting access to bases in Scandinavia and believing the Nordic countries incapable of defending themselves, stated it would not ensure military support for Scandinavia if they did not join NATO. As Denmark and Norway sought US aid for their post-war reconstruction, the project collapsed, with Denmark, Norway and Iceland joining NATO.

Further Nordic co-operation, such as an economic customs union, also failed. This led Danish Prime Minister Hans Hedtoft to propose, in 1951, a consultative inter-parliamentary body. This proposal was agreed by Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in 1952. The council's first session was held in the Danish Parliament on 13 February 1953 and it elected Hans Hedtoft as its president. When Finnish-Soviet relations thawed following the death of Joseph Stalin, Finland joined the council in 1955.

On 2 July 1954, the Nordic labour market was created and in 1958, building upon a 1952 passport-free travel area, the Nordic Passport Union was created. These two measures helped ensure Nordic citizens' free movement around the area. A Nordic Convention on Social Security was implemented in 1955. There were also plans for a single market but they were abandoned in 1959 shortly before Denmark, Norway, and Sweden joined the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). Finland became an associated member of EFTA in 1961 and Denmark and Norway applied to join the European Economic Community (EEC).

This move towards the EEC led to desire for a formal Nordic treaty. The Helsinki Treaty outlined the workings of the council and came into force on 24 March 1962. Further advancements on Nordic cooperation were made in the following years: a Nordic School of Public Health, a Nordic Cultural Fund, and Nordic House in Reykjavík were created. Danish Prime Minister Hilmar Baunsgaard proposed full economic cooperation ("Nordek") in 1968. Nordek was agreed in 1970, but Finland then backtracked, stating that its ties with the Soviet Union meant it could not form close economic ties with potential members of the EEC (Denmark and Norway). Nordek was then abandoned.

As a consequence, Denmark and Norway applied to join the EEC and the Nordic Council of Ministers was set up in 1971 to ensure continued Nordic cooperation. In 1970 representatives of the Faroe Islands and Åland were allowed to take part in the Nordic Council as part of the Danish and Finnish delegations. Norway turned down EEC membership in 1972 while Denmark acted as a bridge builder between the EEC and the Nordics. Also in 1973, although it did not opt for full membership of the EEC, Finland negotiated a free trade treaty with the EEC that in practice removed customs duties from 1977 on, although there were transition periods up to 1985 for some products. Sweden did not apply due to its non-alliance policy, which was aimed at preserving neutrality. Greenland subsequently left the EEC and has since sought a more active role in circumpolar affairs.

In the 1970s, the Nordic Council founded the Nordic Industrial Fund, Nordtest and the Nordic Investment Bank. The council's remit was also expanded to include environmental protection and, in order to clean up the pollution in the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic, a joint energy network was established. The Nordic Science Policy Council was set up in 1983 and, in 1984, representatives from Greenland were allowed to join the Danish delegation.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Nordic Council began to cooperate more with the Baltic states and new Baltic Sea organisations. Sweden and Finland joined the European Union (EU), the EEC's successor, in 1995. Norway had also applied, but once again voted against membership. However, Norway and Iceland did join the European Economic Area (EEA) which integrated them economically with the EU. The Nordic Passport Union was also subsumed into the EU's Schengen Area in 1996.

The Nordic Council became more outward-looking, to the Arctic, Baltic, Europe, and Canada. The Øresund Bridge linking Sweden and Denmark led to a large amount of cross-border travel, which in turn led to further efforts to reduce barriers. However, the initially envisioned tasks and functions of the Nordic Council have become partially dormant due to the significant overlap with the EU and EEA. In 2008 Iceland began EU membership talks, but decided to annul these in 2015. Unlike the Benelux, there is no explicit provision in the Treaty on European Union that takes into account Nordic co-operation. However, the Treaties provide that international agreements concluded by the Member States before they become members of the Union remain valid, even if they are contrary to the provisions of Union law. However, each Member State must take all necessary measures to eliminate any discrepancies as quickly as possible. Nordic co-operation can therefore in practice only be designed to the extent that it complies with Union law.

Arctic Cooperation and Politics .
Baltic region .
Baltoscandia .
Baltic Assembly .
Benelux .
Council of the Baltic Sea States .
European Union .
Frugal Four .
NB8 .
Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize .
Nordic Council's Literature Prize .
Nordic Council Film Prize .
Nordic Council Environment Prize .
Nordic Council Music Prize .
Nordic Identity in Estonia .
Nordic Passport Union .
Nordic Summer University .
Nordic Youth Council .
Nordic countries .
West Nordic Council .

Macroeconomic topics ..

● Economic Geopolitics ..


Monday, January 1, 2024

24-3-7 Sweden in NATO □

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24-6-20 Baltic states readying for (potential) war with Ruscia - OSW > .
24-3-12 Sweden packs a small but powerful military punch - Forces > .
24-3-11 Ceremony to mark 🇸🇪 Sweden's accession to NATO, 11 MAR 2024 - NATO > .
24-3-10 What Sweden Brings to NATO - McBeth > .
22-6-16 Finland and Sweden [Increase] NATO’s Military Capabilities | WSJ > .> Nordic Militaries >>

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

NATO 2023

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23-9-23 Erdoğan's Turkey is NATO's Biggest Internal Problem - Real > .
23-9-18 South Korean Factory Churning Out Armaments for NATO | WSJ > .
23-8-20 NATO's Rearmament & Spending - NATO's R-U Response - Perun > .
23-8-11 NATO's new battle plan - Ruscia not only threat | Defence in Depth > .
23-8-6 Turkish Strategy & R-U War - Arms, Drones, Economics - Perun > . skip > .
23-7-6 NATO to Seek Concrete Actions on Xina | VOANews > .
23-7-10 Ukrainian NATO membership [could] end P00’s genocidal war | Sherriff > .
23-7-8 NATO summit in Vilnius - Lithuania & Ruscian neighbor | DW Doc > .
NATO militaries 
NATO vs Xina 
XIR - NoXious - Axis of Evil >>

> Europe v X >>Alliances - Principles, Geostrategic Benefits ..NATO Members' Militaries ..

23-7-11 > NATO is undertaking the most significant overhaul of its force structure since the end of the Cold War. Following decisions made at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Allies will keep up to 300,000 troops in a state of high readiness. This is a significant increase from the forces kept on alert as part of the NATO Response Force, which has served as the Alliance’s high-readiness force since 2003. NATO has also changed the way it conceptualises the defence of Allied territory. New Regional Plans will outline in detail how NATO forces would defend different areas of the Alliance, from specific forces and capabilities to levels of readiness required. Allied forces will then train to be able to execute these plans. When Russia launched its illegal, full-fledged invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the security landscape on the continent dramatically altered. Ensuring the safety of NATO Allies requires a new framework that provides for rapid response on a larger scale, demonstrating Allied resolve to defend their territory against all aggression.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

23-4-4 Finland Joins NATO □

23-4-4 Finland's flag raised at NATO headquarters - BBC > .
24-6-20 Baltic states readying for (potential) war with Ruscia - OSW > .
24-4-26 How Finland Has Become [Almost] Impossible to Invade - Icarus > .
24-2-12 Alexander Stubb, C-R Former PM: Wins Finland's Presidency | CNBC > .
23-10-3 Finland's 🇫🇮 impact on NATO - NATO > .
23-9-23 Erdoğan's Turkey is NATO's Biggest Internal Problem - Real > .
23-8-31 Arming against P00tin - NATO in Baltic Sea | DW Doc > .
23-7-30 Impact of Sweden’s NATO Membership on Ruscia - VisPol > .
23-7-6 What’s Blocking Sweden’s NATO Membership? | WSJ > .
23-6-17 Finlandization - 74-year delay in Finland's joining NATO - GeoPer > .
23-6-4 Finland's NATO war preparations on new frontline with Russia > .
23-4-4 Finland has joined NATO - Now what? - Baltic World > .
> NATO Politics >>

Happy 74th birthday, North Atlantic Treaty! The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 28 29 European and 2 North American countries. The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949. 

Funding NATO ..
Sweden's NATO Question ..

Saturday, January 15, 2022

NATO ➾ 2022

22-1-15 Finland and Sweden consider NATO membership - Caspian > .
23-8-20 NATO's Rearmament & Spending - NATO's R-U Response - Perun > .
23-7-6 What’s Blocking Sweden’s NATO Membership? | WSJ > .
23-6-18 Procurement vs Efficacy - Requirements, R&D pitfalls - Perun > .
23-2-3 Fiona Hill - NATO = Barrier to Pooti's Imperial Ambitions - SC > .
23-1-30 Inside Polish Armored Infantry (Squad to Division) - Battle > .
23-1-26 Germany's military in dire state. Fix? | DW > .
23-1-8 War Economies - Russia and Ukraine won't collapse tomorrow - Perun > .
22-12-10 Sweden's joining NATO would crush Russian power - Caspian > .
22-11-27 Polish military modernisation & buying Korean kit - Perun > .
22-11-25 US Military's Biggest Crisis = Recruitment, Retention, Training - nwyt > .
22-10-21 Response if Russia uses a nuclear weapon in Ukraine? - J K-L > .
22-10-19 How NATO Solves Its Abandonment Problem - Spaniel > .
22-10-1 America's Missile Defense Problem - Poly > .
22-8-6 Kaliningrad: russian thorn in NATO's side - Nova Lectio > .
22-8-6 How Many BCTs can the US Army Form for a Large Scale War? - CoCa > .
22-7-22 Poland could become strongest land force in the EU - Binkov > .
22-7-21 How the economy of Russia is dying (English subtitles) - Максим Кац > .
22-7-5 Kaliningrad Stand-Off - Lithuania vs Russia - gtbt > .
22-12-29 German Rearmament: Is it going wrong? - mah > .
22-6-30 Russia's Cyberattack on Lithuania ~ NATO's Deeper Problems - Spaniel > .
22-6-29 2022 adjusted MoD's Military Budget - UK > .
22-6-28 Jacek Bartosiak - Kaliningrad, Suwalki Gap - Ruscia, Poland, Ukraine - S&F > .
22-6-24 Russia's Kaliningrad Problem with Lithuania = Ukraine 2.0-ish - Spaniel > .
22-6-21 Kaliningrad at center of dispute between Russia and Lithuania | DW > .
22-6-21 Lithuania enforces sanctions on Ruscist shipments to Kaliningrad - Denys > .
22-12-30 Suwalki Gap: NATO's Weakest Point? | BFBS > .
22-4-1 Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine Sparking NATO Defense Spending Spree? > .
22-3-31 The weapons Ukraine uses against Russia - CaspianReport > .
22-3-30 How will Germany spend its massive €100 billion military budget? | DW > .
22-3-23 Polish citizens join army b/o Russian invasion of Ukraine - BBC > .
22-3-20 Europe's Rearming to defend itself against Russia: New era for EU? - VisPol > .
22-3-12 No-Fly Zone Ukraine - Can it be done? Is it smart? - CoCa > . 
22-3-11 Sanctions, Tech-Denial, Psychology of Isolated Russia | Kotkin | New Yorker > .
22-3-10 Sweden's pro-NATO reaction to Russian aggression - Force Tech > .
22-2-19 Why Germany [daren't] help Ukraine (against Russia) - CaspianReport > .
22-2-11 High Resolution - Russia's Gamble in Ukraine - CSIS > .
22-2-11 Why Is it Not in Russia's Interest to Invade Ukraine? - VisPol > .

Geostrategic Projection
European Geostrategic Projection ..

Comment 22-4-18 Finnish defenses, possibility of joining NATO.

Comment 1 - 22-4-14.
Finland has made the thought of invading it incredibly costly. Finland can mobilize more than half a million trained soldiers from a population of 5,5 million. Every building above a certain size has a bomb shelter. Every bridge is designed with slots that make destroying them with explosives easy. Finland has prepared for an invasion since the second world war and has enough guns to hand every willing person a East-German AK and tell them to camp in the forest.

And what would Russia gain from invading Finland? Finland has little natural resources, there are only a few million people and Finland's location is not that strategically useful all things considered. The main philosophy behind Finnish deference is a cost benefit analysis. What would a potential invader gain and what would it cost?

The reason behind the move towards NATO is partly fear yes, but also the benefit of remaining neutral is not that great to Finland anymore. During the cold war Finland benefited from being able to trade with both east and west but now that Finland is in the EU Finland has to follow the EU sanctions. It is impossible to sit on the fence anymore.

Comment 2 - 22-4-14.
I'm a Finnish person myself, and I have from the very moment Russia started rattling its saber against Finland that now would be the time to join the NATO. The only real consequences they could impose right now are economic ones, as they are preoccupied with killing Ukrainian civvies and could not realistically attack Finland. And so, between being threatened by Kremlin on a semi-weekly basis and seeing what happened to other countries attempting to remain neutral (although not a part of the EU), I believe that NATO membership's gotta be now or never.

Saturday, July 24, 2021

ECE - Economic Corridors - Europe


Geostrategic Projection

Into Europe: The Blue Banana is Europe's first economic corridor. As well as being home to Europe's main financial and political centres, it was the first place where economic integration took place in the European single market. Now other economic corridors are emerging outside of the bloc and the European Union is financing infrastructure Giga-Projects as part of the Trans-European Transport Network. They to connect the economies of its different member states. These economic corridors are connecting Europe together, providing new opportunities for European and International Trade, particularly with Africa.

The Blue Banana (also known as the European Megalopolis or the Liverpool–Milan Axis) is a discontinuous corridor of urbanization spreading over Western and Central Europe, with a population of around 111 million. The concept was developed in 1989 by RECLUS, a group of French geographers managed by Roger Brunet.

It stretches approximately from North Wales through the English Midlands across Greater London to the European Metropolis of Lille, the Benelux states and along the German Rhineland, Southern Germany, Alsace-Moselle in France in the west and Switzerland (Basel and Zürich) to Northern Italy (Milan and Turin) in the south.

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) is a planned network of roads, railways, airports and water infrastructure in the European Union. The TEN-T network is part of a wider system of Trans-European Networks (TENs), including a telecommunications network (eTEN) and a proposed energy network (TEN-E or Ten-Energy). The European Commission adopted the first action plans on trans-European networks in 1990.

TEN-T envisages coordinated improvements to primary roads, railways, inland waterways, airports, seaports, inland ports and traffic management systems, providing integrated and intermodal long-distance, high-speed routes. A decision to adopt TEN-T was made by the European Parliament and Council in July 1996.[2] The EU works to promote the networks by a combination of leadership, coordination, issuance of guidelines and funding aspects of development.

These projects are technically and financially managed by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA), which superseded the Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency Agency (TEN-T EA) on 31 December 2013. The tenth and newest project, the Strasbourg-Danube Corridor, was announced for the 2014–2020 financial period.

In addition to the various TENs, there are ten Pan-European corridors, which are paths between major urban centres and ports, mainly in Eastern Europe, that have been identified as requiring major investment.

The international E-road network is a naming system for major roads in Europe managed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. It numbers roads with a designation beginning with "E" (such as "E1").

https://community.jmp.com/t5/Scott-Wi...
https://www.researchgate.net/publicat...
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes...
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conte...
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/...
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/...
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/...
https://ec.europa.eu/eu-external-inve...
https://ecfr.eu/podcasts/episode/euro...
https://ecfr.eu/article/trump-biden-a...
https://www.kas.de/documents/282499/2...
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/press...
https://tunnelingonline.com/megaproje...
https://chinadialogue.net/en/transpor...
https://ec.europa.eu/transport/infras...
https://www.dw.com/en/building-africa...
https://www.eib.org/en/essays/the-sto...
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/...
https://www.portseurope.com/constanta...

sī vīs pācem, parā bellum

igitur quī dēsīderat pācem praeparet bellum    therefore, he who desires peace, let him prepare for war sī vīs pācem, parā bellum if you wan...