The world is undergoing major change. The Nordic region does not exist isolated from global events – these have a great impact on the Nordic region and the Nordic countries. Global challenges such as climate change and pandemics affect the Nordic countries’ international sphere of action. The rivalry between the superpowers has been intensifying over a long period. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has challenged the established rules-based world order based on respect for international agreements, trust, and a level playing field. With authoritarian and nationalistic regimes such as Russia, and unfortunately an increasing number of other countries, international relationships have become ever more unpredictable and unstable. International collaboration to tackle common threats has suffered because of the new security situation. The global development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals has become more difficult. However, phenomena such as climate change and control over and disarmament of weapons of mass destruction are as urgent as ever.
The Nordic region is a strategically important area in geopolitical terms. Developments in the Baltic Sea area, the Arctic, and the North Atlantic are closely linked to one another and to the Nordic region. The Nordic countries have long been working to strengthen a rules-based order and international organisations, promoting democratic development and people’s right of self-determination, and standing up for human rights. This work is becoming more important, and forms the core of the international strategy of the Nordic Council.
The Nordic Council’s objective is to be an internationally known and respected actor with international activities that are based on common values, the citizens’ welfare, and the region’s security. In the future, the Nordic region should be the world’s most integrated region, ready to act and react together to international challenges. Collaborating as a Nordic entity makes it possible to achieve results that individual Nordic countries would be unable to achieve, and in a more cost-effective way. In the current situation, we in the Nordic region are perhaps more united than ever, and Nordic citizens want even closer Nordic collaboration. Nordic solutions are increasingly in demand, and we have everything to gain from standing even more united internationally. In our international collaboration, we will share our experiences of the Nordic social model and regional collaboration, and we will actively learn from others. We will continue to work for democratic values, peacebuilding, and human rights, and we will strengthen the contact with our like-minded partners to ensure a safer, more sustainable, and more just and democratic world.