THE UNITED STATES’ GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS IN NORTHERN EUROPE

Abstract

This article attempts to determine the United States’ national interests related to geopolitical processes in Northern Europe. To this end, the paper considers the development of the United States’ foreign policy toward Northern Europe after the end of the Cold War, mainly through the prism of U.S.-Nordic relations. Based on the empirical material analysis, the author concludes that the United States’ foreign policy toward Northern Europe is largely aimed at resisting Russia’s increasing influence in Europe. For this purpose, the United States is actively enhancing its influence in Northern Europe. For example, in recent years, large-scale military exercises with the participation of NATO members, including the United States, have been conducted in Northern Europe. The United States is also increasing its military presence in the Baltic countries. According to a U.S.-Nordic statement, these activities are necessary to respond to the Russian threat posed to European security, which results from Russia’s military build-up in the Baltic Sea region and Russian aggression in Ukraine, including Crimea annexation. Moreover, activities within Nordic defence cooperation contribute to preparing Finland and Sweden for NATO membership. It is possible that the United States’ military objects may be deployed in Finland and Sweden in the future. Therefore, it is the United States’ geopolitical ambitions that promote remilitarization and lead to the balance of power failure in Northern Europe, thus posing a threat to European security.

Keywords:

the United States, the Northern Europe Initiative, Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea region, the Nordic countries, NORDEFCO, NATO, Finland, Sweden, Russia