Nordic European security dilemmas: The strategic significance of NATO's northern flank

This study explores the significance of Nordic Europe to the superpowers from a security perspective, with particular emphasis on the viability of NATO defense strategies in the region. It seeks to answer the questions: why is the region important in the security calculations of the superpowers? what vulnerabilities exist, and what are their implications for the defense of the West? what remedies can be offered given obvious political and fiscal constraints? Finally, how is the changing domestic and foreign policy agenda of the USSR affecting the policies and processes of Nordic defense?;Soviet strategic imperatives in the far north are analyzed in detail based on an examination of Soviet exercise history, force structure and doctrine as well as identifiable strategic objectives there. Enduring weaknesses and vulnerabilities, from the perspective of NATO as well as the Nordic neutrals, are identified in the conclusion together with a prescription for corrective action. The author concludes that the region retains considerable strategic significance for both superpowers even in a period of significant reduction in tensions, and that the region deserves serious attention from NATO planners due to the serious implications for a sustained defense of the West in time of war should the Soviets prevail on "NATO's Northern Front".;Three broad perspectives are examined. The first is the Soviet-Nordic relationship, including the strategic and political objectives and interests important to the USSR in the region and their historical antecedents. The second is the evolution and nature of the NATO-Nordic security relationship, with particular emphasis on the Maritime Strategy. The third is the nature of Nordic security decisionmaking processes and the military establishments of the Nordic countries, together with an assessment of their contributions to the defense of the region and their specific security orientations.