Rebuilding Europe’s Security from Scandinavia to the Black Sea

The war has reduced Europe to a crucible where its own destiny is being forged through fire, if not for the benefit of all, then for the benefit of some. The Eastern Flank should take advantage. 

Electrified by Russian violence, a North-Eastern alliance of interests has surged together as a regional security ensemble with London and Warsaw as leading poles, encompassing Scandinavia and the Black Sea.

France and Germany need time to take in the collapse of their decades-long friendly policies and openness to Russia, reassert their positions and calculate the losses deriving both from their preference for Moscow and their forfeiture of leadership roles today. After months of hesitation, Paris and Berlin are focused on damage control while the rest of the EU floats somewhere in-between a deeply unsympathetic Hungarian Orbán and economically-opportunistic Greek shipowners.

East by Northeast: Bucharest 9, Sweden and Finland

In a joint statement by the defence ministers of the Bucharest 9 countries, following a meeting on 13 October co-chaired by Poland and Romania, NATO’s Eastern Flank stated they are counting on allies to additionally contribute robust and highly-operational forces that can be redimensioned from the existing battle group level to a brigade level. The meeting took place on the margins of the NATO defence ministers’ meeting in Bucharest and was attended by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.