Sweden, Finland and NATO’s changing strategic posture in the Nordic-Baltic region

Less than two weeks before the Vilnius NATO summit on July 11-12, the Island of Gotland hosts Sweden’s largest political events. Situated in the middle of the Baltic Sea, Gotland is a small but crucial puzzle piece in a far larger geostrategic environment.

This panel will use Gotland as a starting point for discussion on how Sweden and Finland joining NATO changes the Alliance’s strategic posture in the Nordic-Baltic region and contributes to the Alliance’s collective defence. What is the strategic importance of Gotland in Sweden’s and NATO’s defence planning? How do Stockholm and Helsinki plan on contributing to NATO’s regional deterrent posture. What expectations do the Baltic States have from Sweden and Finland in contributing to their security?

Michael Claesson, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, Swedish Armed Forces
Anthony Lawrence, research fellow, International Centre for Defence and Security ICDS, Tallinn
Stefan Wallin, tidigare försvarsminister och kulturminister, ledamot av Kulturfonden för Sverige och Finland
Joakim Salonen, försvarsattaché, Finlands ambassad

Moderator: Eric Adamsson, AFF/Atlantic Council

Arrangörer: Hanaholmen och Allmänna Försvarsföreningen

Programmet arrangeras i samverkan med Kulturfonden för Sverige och Finland.

Foto: Malin Ericsson, Region Gotland.