Associate Fellow @chathamhouse.org | @cepa.org Fellow | Senior Fellow Frivärld | Defence Editor @eurcorrespond.bsky.social. Plot twist: not from Åland. 📸 Martin Hladik ✍️ Northern Flank Notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/minnalander
28,073 followers 603 following 2,270 posts
view profile on Bluesky 
The great @andybounds.bsky.social with today's Trade Secrets newsletter (I'm back next week) on the EU trying to make up for ruptured trade relations with the US by beetling around the world signing deals elsewhere. First 300 clicks free. on.ft.com/4mSJjVi
Nothing unites like getting screwed by Russia.
In just the past week or so, Russia has bombed a US factory in Ukraine, bombed an EU office in Ukraine, and jammed the navigation system on a plane carrying the EU president, forcing the pilots to land using paper maps. Putin does not want peace. He will keep pushing until we fight back.
”Both leaders highlighted the positive momentum generated during the recent Washington Summit, which reaffirmed international support for advancing peace and the normalization process.” I recently wrote a short article on this recent movement in the Azerbaijan-Armenia rapprochement
President of Azerbaijan met with Prime Minister of Armenia on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. ”The leaders discussed the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace agenda, stressing the importance of constructive dialogue, mutual trust and regional stability.”
So Trump upped the tariff’s on India to 50% when Trump Modi declined to lie for him by saying that he was responsible for bringing peace between India and Pakistan, or nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. So India et al parades Modi laughing and chatting with Xi & Putin.
Housing struggles are not unique to a single European country. However, some regions struggle more than others. Greece stands out, with more than a quarter of the population spending at least 40% of their disposable income on housing costs.
Corruption in Russia: democracy’s most consistent ally. When Russian clans fight each other, I usually wish good luck to both sides. In this case, all the luck goes to corruption.
Half a year of Trumpian diplomacy on display. Where will we be after 4 years? edition.cnn.com/2025/09/01/w...
🚨 The European Commission confirms the plane carrying Ursula von der Leyen in Bulgaria suffered GPS jamming. "We have received information from Bulgarian authorities that they suspect this blatant interference was carried out by Russia," a spokesperson said.
First the EU delegation in Kyiv hit and now this. It would be a great timing to say enough is enough and for Europe to deploy into Ukraine.
Interesting piece from Minna👇 As a Norwegian I will pay extra attention to see how this reunion is developing😂
Tidningen var full med kanondebatten idag. Måste säga att det var en besvikelse att det inte handlande om att köpa flera kanoner, men nånting med kultur.
A downed Russian surveillance drone type Gerbera contained test footage from the Chinese factory from which it was delivered.
Hmm… not sure. Between Finnish saunas heated to >100C and Swedish ones more like ~80ish, would such a 🇫🇮🇸🇪 unification lead to a nationwide compromise of 90 degree saunas? If so, I vote nay!!☝️
A lovely piece. To answer the question: you can't reunite what was never really separated. To complicate further: we are better for eachother as two countries. And we got work to do in the world. We've done it before. Together. ... and yes, Sweden should build more saunas, until then, mine'll do
Interesting piece from Minna Reading about Finland/Sweden athletics champs couldn’t help but reflect on the upcoming Ashes series against Australia - best frenemies indeed! Serious point is that with a more unreliable US, in Europe and beyond Britain must also renew and deepen its old friendships
More swedes being aware of the existence of Finland is all we ask for 😂 (in all seriousness - the change is quite huge and I’m all for it !)
Haha yes that’s a strong compliment from a Finn. And yes I’m Finnish.
I would be fine with that 😌
Someone pointed out that in all fairness I should change my name to Mainlander as I’m actually not from Åland. On the other hand, my second name is Margareeta, I was named after Queen Margarete who established the Kalmar Union…
For real it’s such a betrayal… if only you could get a taste of an Arla yoghurt in Finland you would never feel the same again…
Just read @alanderminna.bsky.social new post (open.substack.com/pub/minnalan...) and I now realise I've been cheated out of creaminess my whole life 😮 If a union is what it takes, then so be it.
Just published a wholesome weekend read, taking stock of the ever-ongoing bilateral competition between Finland and Sweden. Including my personal score ! Jokes aside though - should Finland and Sweden reunite ?
Property speculation & shifting lifestyles are squeezing Berlin’s beloved nightclubs. For a European capital that like no other built its reputation on fun and decadence, the pain is especially palpable www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
🧵1/7 Schlussfolgerungen des 🇩🇪🇫🇷#Sicherheitsrats/erster Blick Fokus #Rüstung 🤝 Mit JEWEL wird ein neues Großprojekt für Europas Raketenabwehr angekündigt. Das soll das geplante Weltallfrühwarnsystem Odins Eye mit einem Netz an Bodenradaren verbinden.
Russlands Drohnen- & Raketenschwärme der letzten Nächte & neuer massiver Truppenaufmarsch entlarven Putins grausames Drehbuch: Er will nicht verhandeln, er will auf dem Schlachtfeld blutig Fakten schaffen. 1/3- @aussenminister.diplo.de
Russia has caused devastating damages to Ukraine. It is unthinkable that Russia will ever see its frozen assets again, unless it fully compensate the damages caused to Ukraine. Today, we discussed this issue with EU Foreign affairs ministers Extract from my press remarks ↓
When Yeltsin was too ill/drunk to be seen in public, the official explanation was: "The president is working with documents." Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Denmark plans to contribute around 1.4 billion euros in 2025 toward weapons production by Ukrainian defense companies, said Defence Minister Poulsen. This follows 600 million euros in contracts placed last year.
Polish IKEA is properly hardcore.
Ich muss wohl doch mal zu Ikea, interessantes Sortiment 🫣
“From a Russian perspective, Ukraine’s increasing own production capacity and decreasing dependence on donations from Western partners means an end to the sanctuary Russia has enjoyed on its own territory. And that could finally really change the game.” 🦩
Ukraine should have “firm and credible security guarantees that will turn the country into a steel porcupine,” von der Leyen said. “Europe will fully play its part.” Meanwhile, still waiting for a definition of Europe's part.
Wem ist das noch nicht passiert: Man wollte sich nur mal ein paar Möbel fürs Arbeitszimmer ansehen und kommt mit 25 Anti-Panzer-Minen und 2 Zentnern Duftkerzen nach Hause.
What has either one of them gained though ? Even in the short term ?
”One can’t blame a nation for being small or geographically vulnerable — only for being cheap and shortsighted.” @michaeldweiss.bsky.social spot on in this excellent piece on the Nordic-Baltic countries’ outsized contribution to Ukraine. They have demonstrated what small state power looks like.
”While other NATO allies bean-count about what they can and cannot provide Ukraine, citing their own need for military readiness, front-line states have rightly assessed that maintenance for a war being fought now has a greater return on investment than stockpiling for a war that might come later.”
”Individually, these figures are higher than what some NATO allies such as Spain, Italy and Slovakia spend as a % of GDP on their own defense. …when the U.S. stopped issuing new aid pledges for Ukraine, the Nordic countries and the UK alone largely made up for the shortfall in security assistance.”
IKEA has everything
”Collectively, [their contribution] adds up to around $29 billion, or about 15% of Europe’s total expenditure on Ukraine since February 2022... These six countries [excluding Norway and Iceland that are not EU members] constitute just 6.3% of the European Union’s total population.”
”Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to any number of unintended consequences, but none so quick and profound as the consolidation of the Nordic and Baltic regions under the NATO umbrella. The Nordic and Baltic states have also been the most enthusiastic supporters of Ukraine.”
Didn't know about those anti tank mines dropped at Ikea warehouse. Fun read. www.politico.eu/article/pola...
If you ever had a bad day at work, think about these Italian guys trying to retrieve a missile from the sea during high holiday season
Happens to me all the time
And another missile story: @frhoffmann.bsky.social gave his assessment on whether the Ukrainian FP-5 ”Flamingo” missiles, introduced this month, can change the war.
My favourite story this week on @eurcorrespond.bsky.social: The Italian military lost a missile in the Sardinian sea and have been trying to retrieve it for some months now, so far unsuccessfully. Also featuring: 400 lost and found Swiss tanks and 240 anti-tank mines found at an IKEA in Poland.
Halleluja
Tämä on erinomainen uutinen! ---> Ilmavoimat poistaa VIHDOIN hakaristit lipuistaan. Ensimmäinen puhe suljettujen ovien takana missä käsittelin tätä mm. propaganda ongelmana oli 2014. @teivo.bsky.social kanssa ollaan puhuttu tästä monen monta kertaa. yle.fi/a/74-20179769
Le Monde has a simulator with which you can do the math whether the French government will collapse (again) 😭
This does not seem spectacular, but it is quite important bit of news. Counter UAS capabilities are crucial. Getting 🇩🇪 EW systems is a big step forward. united24media.com/latest-news/...
My Ukrainian friend sent me a picture of the street they used to live at until a couple months ago, now destroyed. It’s constantly touch and go.
Horrified by yet another night of deadly Russian missile attacks on Ukraine. My thoughts are with the Ukrainian victims and also with the staff of the EU Delegation in Ukraine, whose building was damaged in this deliberate Russian strike.
Now 14 dead in Kyiv. Russia will continue to do this until it faces crippling, well enforced sanctions, and more military pressure from Ukraine, aided by the West. Putin sees only weakness from Trump and the West, which encourages more attacks. Action - not "resolve to stand with" - is needed.
Ich bin in meiner Bewertung meist zurückhaltend, doch die russische „Diplomatie“, die wir in Kyjiw heute Nacht erlebten, spricht eine deutlichere Sprache als jegliche Worte. Terror.
In Helsinki, the court case against the #EagleS captain and 1st and 2nd officers started yesterday. Iltalehti reports that 🇫🇮 police wiretapped the crew after detaining them and intercepted instructions by the operator to tamper with evidence: www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/f4... (Google transl. text)
The United States military scrambled fighter jets again Tuesday to track another Russian spy plane flying near Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said.
Dieses Buch handelt von einer fernen Zeit. Manche Passagen aber bringen etwas im Zeitgenossen zum Schwingen. Es erzählt, wie die Akteure vor fast 100 Jahren nicht verstanden, dass ihre Welt unterging, obwohl die Fassaden der Institutionen stehen blieben. Es handelt von der Illusionen der Einhegung.
News from the North. 😅 No, Santa hasn't arrived yet! Thank you @alanderminna.bsky.social 👇
Canada's ambassador is a bit of a hero in southern Stockholm. He has taken the local football team here to his heart and attend the matches whenever he can.
The wedding of the century… yep, CSDS and SWIFT are tying the knot. csds.vub.be/project/s-w-... #swift #edf
This is so funny. The US is already finding out how it goes when you try to interfere in a village where everyone knows each other, is related to each other, and no one has secrets. Namely that it doesn’t go very far. It was probably the Danish source’s second cousin who exposed the whole thing.
Today on the Europe Dispatch with @phillipspobrien.bsky.social: Canada is looking for new friends in Europe. In fact, if Canada could detach itself from the Northern American continental shelf and float over to Europe, I suspect it would do so.
More than that. Rutte said this year "there is no East or West, only NATO". Every member is a frontline sate. Thats the whole point of NATO
Below is a chart showing Norwegian oil revenues. Check out 2022-2024. There is a clear correlation with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. So yes, I also think Norway could and should provide even more. There are all these new missiles that need production lines. 😎
Also in Europe - remember that Norway has population of 5.5m to 🇩🇪's 89m & 🇬🇧's 68m and do the maths. This is huge 👏👇 Of course, 🇳🇴 also shares border with 🇷🇺 so probably grasps the danger of Russian imperialism quicker than complacent western Europeans. Do rewatch that excellent series 'Occupation'...
Det stemmer! Gi mer! For fondet er til for å sikre fremtiden, og det er ikke noe viktigere å bruke det på enn dette.
The best thing about news like this is that all my Norwegian friends think that this still isn’t enough and Norway should do more. Thanks Norway this does go a long way ! 🇳🇴🤝🇺🇦
monday mood
What about Finnkampen ! It would be ”västra republikshalvan vs. östra republikshalvan” ?
…eller finsk med svensk accent ? 🥶
Det här låter lite kontroversiellt
No no David that’s so last decade… now it’s the swedes who are really obsessed with our prime ministers (well not the current one) and presidents 😁
Jag skulle säga okej men det är nu Sveriges tur att vara västra republikshalvan.
Ruotsalainen historianproffa Dick Harrison on sitä mieltä että Suomen ja Ruotsin jälleenyhdistymiselle on oikeastaan vain muodollisia esteitä ja kumpikin maa hyötyisi. Mahdollista tämä voisi olla Harrisonin mielestä vielä hänen elinaikanaan.
Happy Independence Day to Ukraine ! 🇺🇦 What a nice present from Norway and Germany.
The Pentagon is working on plans to deploy the U.S. military to Chicago as soon as September, a new report says
The State of Illinois at this time has received no requests or outreach from the federal government asking if we need assistance, and we have made no requests for federal intervention.
A symbol of unity in defiance of oppression. 36 years ago, two million people joined hands across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in a fearless demand for freedom - the Baltic Way 🇪🇪🤝🇱🇻🤝🇱🇹 A main walkway in the EP building in Brussels is named in honour of the event.
EU solidarity with Ukraine is unwavering. Today, the EU disburses over €4 billion to support Ukraine. This is our commitment not only to Ukraine’s recovery, but to its future as a sovereign and democratic country. europa.eu/!9TKHKh
If a president wanted to become effectively a dictator, he’d likely: 1. Purge govt of non loyalists 2. Weaponize law against opponents 3. Use military to police opposition strongholds 4. Threaten media, schools, businesses w penalties to get them to heel 5. Change election rules in his favor.
Hahaaa love it
Whenever people are shocked about Finland’s military capability and ask about why Finland is such a militaristic country, I’ll show them this
The Finnish state railway company now has cute little standard avatars for app users (the trains are decorated in a similar design). Apparently I have reached the level of ”enthusiastic train traveller”, maybe there’s more levels ? Anyways, I love it that Finland is such a serious country 🥹
"Det er simpelthen det mest uegnede fartøj på det mest uegnede sted. Det lugter forkert, at de på den ene side skulle være super professionelle og på den anden side skulle træffe så mange mærkelige valg." siger jeg til TV2.
Moomins are apparently having a moment in the US, so there’s hope for America still
The Moomins contain ”political themes—war, displacement, imminent annihilation, environmental catastrophe…this juxtaposition makes the Moomins perfect guides.” ”If the underlying themes can be anxiety-provoking, then the Moomins themselves are anchoring presences—whatever may happen to the world.”
😂🫡
Russian own goal no. 1329378
Ukraine was a participant in the INF Treaty, which Russia played an instrumental role in undermining. Now Russia will be faced with hundreds, likely eventually thousands, of Ukrainian ground-launched intermediate-range missiles of the type that the INF Treaty banned.
Happy Molotov-Ribbentrop Day to all who celebrate or cosplay. You know who you are.
Hi all, I published my latest Substack post earlier today, offering an initial assessment of the FP-5 Flamingo’s specifications, lethality, survivability, and strategic implications. Access the full post via the link below: missilematters.substack.com/p/the-flamin... Short summary below. 1/6
It’s typical of the times we live in that Dog Shirt TV, of which I’m a proud co-host, was among the first - and on the spot ! - to report about the FBI raid at John Bolton’s house. @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org
Big news for the Finnish Navy: the SSM 2020 system (IAI Gabriel) is now operational: merivoimat.fi/en/-/new-sur...
Perspectives from a European millennial on growing up "in a Europe where Russia was largely irrelevant and the whole continent was becoming accessible in completely new ways, thanks to the free mobility granted by the Schengen system. [..] War? It seemed like a very far-away phenomenon"
IT’S BEAUTIFUL
More on the 🦩🚀: "I would say there is some sort of big dick energy moment. You don’t need a scary name for a missile that can fly 3,000 kilometers," Terekh said of the missile's claimed range. "The main goal is for a missile to be effective.”