An official policy of neutrality – or at least, explicit unalignment – was once critical to the national security policies of Sweden and Finland. Not anymore. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused seismic shifts in European strategic planning almost overnight. Germany doubled its defense budget. NATO laggards found their spine. Perhaps nowhere is the change in sentiment more visible than in Swedish and Finnish attitudes toward joining NATO.
All of their non-Russian neighbors are enthusiastic members of NATO. In many ways, Sweden and Finland’s reticence is an anachronistic holdover. As is being argued Helsinki and Stockholm, no longer can one expect that obsequence to Russian insecurity is a ticket to avoiding Russian aggression. Given the quickly shifting national security environment in Europe, and Sweden and Finland’s close ties to the Americans and Europe (both are already members of the EU, and Finland a member of the Eurozone) if a final decision to join NATO is made, I expect it to happen fairly quickly. And while Moscow may rant and rave… there’s not much Russia can realistically do to stop it.
Here at Zeihan On Geopolitics we select a single charity to sponsor. We have two criteria:
First, we look across the world and use our skill sets to identify where the needs are most acute. Second, we look for an institution with preexisting networks for both materials gathering and aid distribution. That way we know every cent of our donation is not simply going directly to where help is needed most, but our donations serve as a force multiplier for a system already in existence. Then we give what we can.
Today, our chosen charity is a group called Medshare, which provides emergency medical services to communities in need, with a very heavy emphasis on locations facing acute crises. Medshare operates right in the thick of it. Until future notice, every cent we earn from every book we sell in every format through every retailer is going to Medshare’s Ukraine fund.
And then there’s you.
Our newsletters and videologues are not only free, they will always be free. We also will never share your contact information with anyone. All we ask is that if you find one of our releases in any way useful, that you make a donation to Medshare. Over one third of Ukraine’s pre-war population has either been forced from their homes, kidnapped and shipped to Russia, or is trying to survive in occupied lands. This is our way to help who we can. Please, join us.
