August 2025 - Nordic Defence Review

The 1975 Helsinki Conference Planted the Seeds of a Revolution in Eastern Europe

In the midst of Cold War détente, an unlikely diplomatic milestone took shape in Helsinki, Finland. From 30 July to 1 August 1975, 35 nations – every European country, except Albania, plus the United States and Canada – convened for the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). The most dramatic manifestation of the

The 1975 Helsinki Conference Planted the Seeds of a Revolution in Eastern Europe Read More »

Bunker Books: If Russia Wins: A Scenario (2025) by Carlo Masala

Book Review

Indifference or half-measures in the face of aggression embolden autocracies, reminds Carlo Masala, professor of international politics at Bundeswehr University Munich. Masala delivers a chilling geopolitical case study in his compact but sharply focused book Wenn Russland gewinnt. Ein Szenario (2025). Carlo Masala constructs a detailed hypothetical scenario whereby, in March 2028, after a formally concluded

Bunker Books: If Russia Wins: A Scenario (2025) by Carlo Masala Read More »

INS Tamar during its trials. (Image: Screenshot from Indian Navy video / Indian Navy PR Department )

Indian Warship in the Baltic Sea: Signalling Support for Russia

Business, Diplomacy, Technology

In mid-July 2025, Finland’s navy was alerted to an unusual visitor: INS Tamal, a newly delivered Indian Navy frigate built in Russia, was transiting northern European waters. Finnish and Swedish maritime authorities confirmed Tamal reported it was bound for the Bothnian Bay, off Finland’s west coast. Finnish Navy spokesperson Commander Markus Malila emphasised the ship

Indian Warship in the Baltic Sea: Signalling Support for Russia Read More »

Poland’s Baltic Oil Strike: Energy Security Boost Amid Green Transition

News, Strategy

Poland has struck black gold off its northern coast, unveiling what experts call the country’s largest oil discovery ever – and one of Europe’s biggest in a decade. This finding could significantly strengthen Poland’s national and regional energy security. A Canadian exploration firm, Central European Petroleum (CEP), announced that its Wolin East-1 well, drilled just

Poland’s Baltic Oil Strike: Energy Security Boost Amid Green Transition Read More »

Artist’s rendering of a Danish MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone patrolling icy Arctic waters. Denmark is acquiring four of these long-range U.S.-built drones to bolster surveillance over Greenland and the North Atlantic. (Image: Danish Ministry of Defence)

Arctic Defence: Denmark to Patrol Airspace with Over‑the‑Horizon Drones

Business, Strategy

Denmark is dramatically boosting its Arctic surveillance capabilities by purchasing four over-the-horizon unmanned drones. Norway has also been studying long-range drones for its High North, eyeing the MQ-9B and other platforms for Arctic surveillance. This is a significant upgrade of NATO’s eyes in the Far North. In July 2025, Copenhagen signed an agreement via NATO’s

Arctic Defence: Denmark to Patrol Airspace with Over‑the‑Horizon Drones Read More »

Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. Germany’s latest defence budget will fund 20 new Eurofighters among other major procurements (Image: Stefan Petersen/Luftwaffe)

Germany’s Historic Military Expansion €83 Billion Defence Budget for 2026

Analysis, Business

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has secured an exemption for military expenditure from Germany’s strict debt-brake rules, enabling a dramatic boost in the defence budget – and reverberating through Europe’s defence industry. Germany is embarking on its largest military buildup in decades, with plans to spend around €83 billion on defence in 2026 – a jump of €20 billion

Germany’s Historic Military Expansion €83 Billion Defence Budget for 2026 Read More »

KITTERY, Maine (Dec. 6, 2024) — The Virginia-class attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) departs Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to conduct sea trials after receiving critical repairs and system upgrades vital to extending the submarine’s service life and ensuring the Navy’s long-term fleet readiness. As America’s leader for attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization, PNSY is enhancing critical warfighting capabilities by safely delivering first time quality service, on-budget, on time to the fleet and helping enable warfighters to be battle-ready when called upon. (US Navy photo by Branden Bourque)

Symbolic Escalation: U.S. Nuclear Submarines Repositioned

News

In early August 2025, President Donald Trump ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to be repositioned to undisclosed “appropriate regions” in response to escalating and provocative statements by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev — now deputy chairman of Russia’s National Security Council – who had issued veiled threats of possible conflict. In many ways, the U.S. submarine fleet

Symbolic Escalation: U.S. Nuclear Submarines Repositioned Read More »

An Estonian particpates in exercise Hedgehog 25 — or Siil 2025 in Estonian — the operation saw 16,000 troops take part in a sweeping, multinational defence drill that spans the entire country, one of the largest NATO exercises hosted by Estonia. (Image: NATO)

Estonia’s Defence Commitment: €10 Billion by 2029

News

Estonia’s Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur has formally approved a development plan allocating more than €10 billion over the four‑year period 2026–2029 to strengthen Estonia’s defence capabilities. According to Estonian intelligence leaders, NATO must deter Russia for the next 10–20 years, and that sustained defence investment is essential. The Estonian national defence budget for 2026 alone

Estonia’s Defence Commitment: €10 Billion by 2029 Read More »