Nordic security and defence cooperation in a European context

Despite their shared values and feelings of solidarity, Nordic countries have found it difficult to cooperate as intensely in the field of security and defence policy. An example of this is the plan in 1948 to establish a Nordic Defence Community (NDC) - a project that proved too ambitious and, in retrospect, quite unrealistic. Today, 57 years later, cooperation on security and defence policy seems to be returning to the agenda among Nordic countries. The most conspicuous example of this is the May 2000 decision of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark to establish a joint Nordic brigade called the Nordic Co-ordinated Arrangement for Military Peace Support (NORDCAPS). Also the creation of 13 battle groups of the European Union (EU) to intervene in international crises could bring the Nordic countries even more together in extending cooperation on security and defence. Sweden and Finland will be joined by Norway, which is not a member state of the EU, in the establishment of a Nordic battle group, where Denmark is not taking part. In addition, the plans and cooperation commitments of the countries also provide for a common procurement policy, which is an indication of just how military cooperation is gaining in importance to also the Nordic countries. For the same reason and at a time when military issues have actively entered the common Nordic arena, there is reason to tackle and re-think some of the standard explanations of Nordic peace and cooperation on security and defence issues.