The impact of changing Russian nuclear doctrine on alliance formation in the Nordics
Subject Areas : International Relations
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Keywords: Russian nuclear doctrine, Nordic, alliance, multi-dimensional models, regional security,
Abstract :
With the change in Russia’s nuclear doctrine in November 2024, the level of security threats against the Nordic-Baltic countries has increased to an unprecedented level. The new document has redefined the security perception in the Nordic countries by expanding the scope of the permitted use of nuclear weapons, especially in response to the West’s military support for Ukraine. This article, based on the theory of alliance in international relations, analyzes the strategic response of the Nordic countries in the face of this emerging threat. The research method is qualitative and based on the analysis of strategic documents, geopolitical developments, and security institutional trends in the region. The findings show that the change in Russia’s doctrine has paved the way for the formation of two simultaneous paths in regional security: joining transregional institutions (such as NATO) on the one hand, and strengthening intraregional arrangements (such as NORDEFCO) on the other. The article concludes that this security transformation has pushed alliances towards networked and heterogeneous patterns and may redefine Europe's security architecture in the medium term.
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