The European Neutrals in International Affairs by Hanspeter Neuhold & Hans Thalberg

Author:Hanspeter Neuhold & Hans Thalberg [Neuhold, Hanspeter & Thalberg, Hans]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, General
ISBN: 9781000301120
Google: knCdDwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2019-06-12T08:57:28+00:00

The Value of the Swedish and the Finnish Policies of Neutrality to the Security of Norway

Arne Olav Brundtland

Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Oslo

1. Introduction

The value for Norway of the Swedish and Finnish policies of neutrality can hardly be exaggerated. Swedish and Finnish neutrality form a fundamental part of the international preconditions for the Norwegian approach to security policy. The defense of Norway in the present situation cannot seriously be contemplated without consideration of these external conditions. On the other hand, Norwegian security policy is of particular importance to the security of both Sweden and Finland. But this latter aspect is by definition beyond the topic of this paper to be presented at the Laxenburg conference on the value of neutrality in present-day security policies in Europe.

A prerequisite for the pattern of security in Northern Europe—often referred to as the "Nordic Balance"1—is the sovereign right of all Nordic States to formulate national security policies without the interference of any other Northern European State. There exists, therefore, a basis for mutual respect and understanding of the individual security policies pursued by each of the Nordic States.

No Nordic State sees its problem of security as emanating from any Nordic source. The general security problem of the Nordic States stems from the potential for conflict between non-Nordic States into which the Nordic States might be drawn. And because of differences in geographical position, historical experiences and defensive capabilities, the individual Nordic States have embarked upon their own distinctive security policies in order to cope with this international problem.

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