As old Europe lags, the Nordic and Baltic countries, along with Poland, have taken the mantle of European leadership.
As old Europe lags, the Nordic and Baltic countries, along with Poland, have taken the mantle of European leadership.
L ike many Americans, I have grown weary of Europe’s failure to invest in its own defense. However, on a recent trip with U.S. Senate colleagues to Norway, Finland, Estonia, and Denmark, I saw a turnaround underway.
Russian aggression in Ukraine dominates most discussions of NATO and European security, for good reason. It is the immediate threat, the hot war on the alliance’s border. All of the officials we met agreed that President Trump’s leadership and initiative offer the only hope for a lasting, just conclusion to that conflict.
But resolution in Ukraine will not guarantee peace in Europe. The specter of Russian aggression in the north, China’s deepening ties to Russia and its expansion into the Arctic, and the long-running risk of Europe’s energy dependence on Russia will remain. Fortunately, the Nordic and Baltic allies see these threats clearly and are taking vital steps to counter them.
First, they are reinvesting in their militaries. For too long, European nations neglected their commitments to NATO and allowed their military capabilities and readiness to wither. Had they paid their fair share, the world would look very different today.
Now, thanks to President Trump’s relentlessness, the NATO allies have pledged 5 percent of their GDP to defense. Estonia will reach 5.4 percent by end of decade. Last year, Norway committed $160 billion to defense over the next twelve years. Denmark will surpass 3 percent next year. Finland, which joined NATO only two years ago, plans to spend at least 3 percent of GDP on defense by 2029.
These countries are putting their investments to good use. They are boosting missile and munition production, recruiting personnel, and strengthening interoperability with the U.S. military. They’re also buying billions of dollars of U.S. equipment, including F-35 fighters filled with parts built in Pennsylvania, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and missiles, and, in Finland’s case, cooperating with America to produce much-needed icebreakers. Each purchase represents a major investment in America’s workers and its defense industrial base. Pennsylvania’s defense workers understand this better than most. Our state leads the way in 155mm ammunition and combat vehicle production, among other essential capabilities.
Second, these countries are deepening defense and intelligence cooperation with America in its support of European security. Norway grants the U.S. military access to twelve sites and has hosted prepositioned Marine Corps equipment since the 1990s. Finland also has granted the U.S. military access to 15 military bases, while Estonia hosts a 900-strong multinational battlegroup and over 600 U.S. troops on rotation. All four countries routinely host or participate in large-scale, multinational exercises. U.S. Navy SEALs and Norway’s naval special operations troops routinely train together in harsh Arctic conditions.
These allies also share America’s commitment to Ukraine and to extracting lessons for fighting and winning future wars. Norway, Denmark, and Finland rank fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively, in support for Ukraine relative to GDP. Norway and Denmark committed to fund U.S. weapons deliveries to Ukraine. And while China and Iran aid Russia and watch the rapid revolutions in military affairs — from drones to AI — taking place, our Nordic and Baltic allies are studying, too. They understand that the lessons learned from Ukraine aren’t just about deterring Russia, but also deterring — and, if need be, defeating — China.
Third, the officials I met with agree that economic security is national security. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland became the first European country to stop importing Russian liquified natural gas, and Norway has become Europe’s top pipeline gas supplier, providing over 35 percent of its energy needs. Those proceeds capitalize Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund, which invests half its assets in the United States, directly supporting nearly 470,000 American jobs.
Finally, the United States and its Nordic partners recognize the risks in the Arctic. Beijing and Moscow have set their sights on the strategic opportunities and the untapped energy and rare earth elements there. New initiatives in Greenland and elsewhere in the high North offer opportunities to block their advances and deepen our shared economic security.
These nations, like all of Europe, have blind spots, particularly when it comes to their economic ties to Communist China. Yet they have shown courage by committing to making NATO credible again, punishing Russia for its aggression, and blocking our shared adversaries in the Arctic. They rightly see the global threat posed by the axis of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran.
As old Europe lags, the Nordic and Baltic countries, along with Poland, have taken the mantle of European leadership. They will be critical partners in protecting U.S. interests on the continent. If other European NATO nations follow suit, the alliance’s future will be bright. If they fall prey to the past bad habits of frugality, bureaucracy, and dependency, they may as well start teaching their children Russian.