Internal NATO Contradictions; Swedish TV: Possibility of Nordic Joint Army Emerges

A NATO foreign ministers' meeting was held today in Helsingborg, Sweden. Due to the U.S.'s skeptical attitude toward NATO and its desire to control Greenland, uncertainty has emerged within NATO, and EU countries are inconsistent in their approaches to increasing defense budgets. Swedish TV analyzed that the four Nordic countries bordering Russia might choose to break down border restrictions and form a Nordic joint army to respond to the Russian threat. The NATO foreign ministers' meeting held on the 22nd in Helsingborg is the first large-scale NATO meeting hosted by Sweden since it joined NATO in 2024, attracting attention from all sectors. Ahead of the meeting, the public broadcasters of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland jointly produced a program on NATO, inviting ministers and scholars from the four countries to discuss their views on various issues within the NATO framework. The guests discussed topics such as "Is the U.S. still an ally?", "Should Europe establish its own defense organization?", and "Attitudes toward nuclear deterrence." Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg stated that a strong NATO is beneficial to the U.S., and NATO countries should continue to increase their military strength. Danish Acting Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen agreed, noting that while Denmark understands U.S. security concerns, cooperation through dialogue is essential. Swedish TV security reporter Johan Granlund analyzed that a reduction in U.S. military presence in Europe is a predictable trend, and European countries must increase defense budgets. He noted that Nordic countries do not support the proposal for an EU army but prefer deepening security cooperation in the Nordic region. He suggested that by integrating Nordic forces, they can establish efficient self-defense in the event of a rapid U.S. withdrawal from Europe.