Cooperation in security and defence between Finland, Sweden and the USA – both bi- and trilaterally – has significantly increased in recent years. Cooperation has deepened on all levels from strategic dialogue to operative exercises and tactical training.

Formalizing trilateral cooperation produces administrative, practical and military advantages, but it also carries political significance.

The trilateral cooperation can advance in leaps and bounds over the coming years, as long as it increases all three countries’ security and advances their regional interests.

Thus far, domestic politics in Finland, Sweden and the United States have had little impact on the cooperation, other than by supporting it. Due to reasons pertaining to their domestic politics, however, the countries communicate the significance of the cooperation in different ways.

 

Leading researcher