Reactions to the Russia–Ukraine War Among the Scandinavian Countries

Abstract

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 fundamentally changed the security environment in Europe, creating a pressure on neighbouring countries to respond. This was no different in Scandinavia, where Finland gave up decades of military non-alignment, and Sweden centuries of neutrality to apply for NATO membership, while Denmark gave up its opt-out and joined the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy. These countries, together with Norway, represent a united front in favour of Euro-Atlantic integration, while Ukraine enjoys their widespread support. This study aims to provide a brief overview of the foreign and security policies of these four Nordic countries in light of the 2022 escalation of the Russia–Ukraine War.