Nuclear arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament in the Nordic region: Lessons from the past and possible routes ahead

This UI Report examines the history of nuclear disarmament advocacy in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden to highlight current and future possibilities for Nordic cooperation in this area. The chapters on Denmark and Norway show how both countries have managed to balance their engagement in both conventional and ambitious disarmament initiatives with their security commitments to NATO. Meanwhile, Finland has navigated its historic non-alignment policy by maintaining a pragmatic and gradualist approach to disarmament, whereas Sweden has advanced more comprehensive policies of nuclear disarmament that have diminished over time as the security context has shifted. Based on these findings, the report demonstrates how fostering Nordic cooperation in this area could leverage shared traditions and normative power to position the Nordics as a leading unit on nuclear disarmament and arms control, both within and outside of NATO. Against a security context of mounting nuclear threats, this could include more pragmatic initiatives around nuclear non-proliferation, risk reduction and de-escalation, utilizing existing disarmament infrastructure like the Stockholm Initiative and focusing especially on security in the Baltic and Arctic regions. Although limitations in scope and expertise prevented the inclusion of Iceland in this report, future studies are encouraged to address this important gap.