The Flight of the Raven: Recent Developments in Contemporary Nordic Geopolitics
A Monthly Report from the Nordics – 21st April 2025
Introduction
Hello! I want to say ‘Velkommen’ to my first dispatch as the Nordic contributor for the British Institute of Global Affairs. My name is Jake Southerland, and I am an American who recently graduated from Leiden University with an M.A. in International Relations. The purpose of this dispatch and all future iterations is to convey my passion for Nordic geopolitics and culture to you all and explain how instrumental a healthy UK-Nordic relationship is for today’s European geopolitical landscape. I hope that you all find the topics covered in today’s dispatch as fascinating as I do, and be sure to subscribe to BIGA to hear more about recent developments from our friends up north!
Stop 1: Denmark/Danmark 🇩🇰
Danish Royal Diplomacy in Action: HM King Frederik X in France (31st March to 2nd April)
With the tunes of Kong Christian and La Marseillaise ringing out at Ėysėe Palace, Denmark’s three-day state visit to France had officially commenced. Beyond the pomp and pageantry, the image of King Frederik standing beside President Macron sends a quiet but powerful reminder: constitutional monarchies are far from ceremonial holders and continue to evolve as symbols of diplomatic soft power in Europe. The moment conveying that Denmark is committed to building a ‘stronger Europe’ (Le Monde 2025).
For the UK, the message is crystal clear. As the Danish assert their presence in Europe – militarily, culturally, and diplomatically – Britain must also utilize its version of royal diplomacy. Of course, European monarchies are merely figureheads today. However, their continued presence matters because the Crown carries visual spectacles and also signals the UK’s or other Nordic nation’s commitment. Unlike Prime Ministers, the Crown can express tradition, continuity, and unity without muttering a word (Møller 2020). This is evident when George VI granted asylum to the Norwegian royal family during WWI and again when HMS Norfolk returned them to their rightful place in Oslo in 1945. Through moments like these, Monarchies convey continuity and unity in ways other diplomatic figures struggle (British Pathé 1945).
HM Queen Elizabeth II, outliving 14 British prime ministers, is a prime example of how the Crown’s enduring presence continues to provide stability and soft power. With HM Charles III’s recent health concerns, Prince William presents a valuable opportunity for the UK to utilize royal diplomacy in these times of uncertainty. A royal visit to Denmark, Norway, or Sweden would visibly affirm UK-Nordic ties and their commitment to NATO, reinforce their shared values, and, most importantly, highlight Britain’s continued relevance in continental affairs.
Unlike their ancestors, the British royals cannot negotiate treaties or set foreign policy, but that is beside the point here. The royals’ presence in Europe alone symbolizes Britain’s shared values with its continental neighbors. It continues to be one of the most effective but underused assets in Britain’s diplomatic toolbox; therefore, the UK should not hesitate to wield its historical identity in Europe’s hour of need.
Stop 2: Sweden/Sverige 🇸🇪
Odin’s Wings Unfurled: Sweden’s Air Force at the Heart of NATO’s Ramstein Flag Exercise 2025
Sweden, NATO’s newest member, demonstrated its capabilities by leading a contingency in the Ramstein Flag Exercise. The contingent, composed of a handful of Jas 39 Gripen fighters and 60 – 70 personnel from Skaraborg Air Wing, played a pivotal role during the exercise from 31 March to 11 April (Defence Industry Europe 2025). Despite the Swedish army’s long-standing practice of aligning their equipment to NATO standards, the decision to lead the exercise was a strategic move to “provide valuable experience to their younger pilots in flying in a new airspace, working with non-Swedish speaking pilots, and conducting overseas deployments”, as stated by an anonymous Swedish pilot (DEI 2025).
The 12 NATO allied bases participating in the exercise included Britain’s RAF Marham, whose purpose was to act as a base of operations for Spanish F-18 Hornets participating in the mission. Another RAF base utilized in the exercise was RAF Lossiemouth, where their Typhoon fighter jets practiced air-to-air refueling with Allied air forces (RAF 2025). Britain’s participation in Ramstein Flag 2025 is critical, especially after Defence Minister Lord Coaker recently announced that the RAF would coordinate with the Swedish to help Poland protect their airspace (MOD 2025).
However, the RAF’s participation and Lord Coaker’s recent announcement are not just isolated events. They are part of a larger, more significant picture of British interests. The coordination with Sweden and NATO clearly reflects PM Starmer’s vision for the “coalition of the willing.” This vision, which aims to reinforce British leadership, is crucial in fostering a unified response to the looming Russian threat (10 Downing Street 2025). It conveys the strength and unity that NATO’s European members are mustering against the looming Russian threat.
Stop 3: Norway/Norge 🇳🇴
The Strategic Ráðfundr: An Arctic Military Summit on Russia’s Edge
On the 2nd April, in the Norwegian border town of Kirkenes, a modern-day ráðfundr was convened among Arctic military commanders, with observers from the UK, the Netherlands, and others. The primary objective of this meeting was to discuss and contribute to the ongoing discourse on hybrid threats, including cyber attacks, intelligence warfare, and infrastructure sabotage (Edvardsen 2025). These threats, often attributed to Russia in the Arctic region, are of significant concern to many states, such as Norway, Denmark, and the US. Despite not having physical territory in the Arctic, the UK still identifies itself as a ‘near arctic state’ (UK Gov 2023).
By adopting this designation, Britain has clearly stated their strategic commitment to Arctic stability. This label is evident in their observer status in the Arctic Council and their ongoing military cooperation with the Norwegian Navy in Arctic patrols. These actions demonstrate the UK’s regional involvement and strong support for a rules-based international order in the High North. In the face of Russia’s assertive stance, President Trump’s controversial suggestion that the US could acquire Greenland “one way or the other” signaling Britain’s increasingly crucial role in Arctic security discussions to facilitate sovereignty, deterrence, and cooperative security within the region (Starcevic 2025). With the Nordic states ramping up their security initiatives, it will be intriguing to see how the region approaches and aligns with Europe’s broader efforts at developing its defense industry. (The Guardian 2025)
Conclusion
While there are so many other developments in Nordic news that we did not cover today, such as Danish PM Mette Frederiksen’s visit to the Faroe Islands and Greenland in response to US Vice President Vance’s recent excursion or Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s speech to the Nordic Council on the region’s shared values of trust and solidarity (The Nordic Council 2025; NRK.no 2025; Gov of Faroe Islands). I believe that HM King Frederik’s visit to France, Sweden’s increased participation in NATO exercises, and the British participation in modern Arctic security are instrumental stories in showing how the UK can reapproach its position on the European political stage. I will bring three more Nordic newsworthy stories on the third weekend of every month, so stay tuned!