Year-End Interview with Supreme Commander Michael Claesson by Per Wallin

As 2025 draws to a close, Nordic defence cooperation has transitioned from ambition to practical reality. Sweden and Finland are fully integrated into NATO, and the cooperation among the Nordic countries is now characterised by joint planning, increased interoperability, and a shared strategic perspective. In the Nordic Defence Sectors year-end review, Supreme Commander Michael Claesson reflects on the past year and highlights what will be crucial moving forward.

 

What progress do you see as most significant over the past year, and what will be most important in 2026 to further deepen Nordic cooperation?

– The continued integration of Sweden and Finland into NATO is a clear success. For the first time since the Kalmar Union, all five Nordic countries are in the same operational context. This creates entirely new opportunities. Particularly important is the establishment of the staff and command elements that will support NATO's joint operational planning in the Nordic region. This is crucial both for the future and for our joint capability here and now.

Claesson describes how the overall picture now looks different than before.

– When you zoom out and look at geography, infrastructure, and how interconnected we actually are, it is possible to create a flow logic that is mutually supportive. For the first time in a long while, it all fits together properly, both logistically and operationally.

 

You have spoken about how concepts like "frontline" are changing in today's security environment. How do you reason about that?

– In NATO, there is the concept of frontline states, often linked to the eastern border. But in an environment characterised by multi-domain operations and hybrid warfare, it becomes limiting. I consider Sweden a frontline state, but in reality, this applies to all of NATO. Even Portugal is exposed. Therefore, it is sometimes more accurate to speak of a border rather than a front.

He argues that this has implications for how military leadership and planning must evolve.

– To truly understand multi-domain operations, you must zoom out. Otherwise, you risk getting stuck in concepts that no longer reflect reality.

 

How do you view the interaction between the defence industry, research, and military capability in the Nordic region?

– The connection is entirely obvious. In addition to industry and research, we must also include academia, which supports both. In Sweden's case, we also have state-run, integrity-sensitive research through the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). With the pace of technological development we see today, it becomes increasingly important to work in integrated project teams over time.

Claesson simultaneously calls for new ways of thinking about procurement.

– We must be able to procure capability and availability, not just materiel. Capability is not just an item, but also keeping it tactically relevant and usable over time. There are great opportunities in the Nordic region, but we must not be naive. Ownership structures and the state's role in industry differ and affect cooperation.

He also points to the importance of harmonising requirements.

– When we are in the same military-strategic and operational context, completely different conditions for common requirements are created. There are already good examples, both Nordic and European.

 

Hybrid attacks, cyber influence, and sabotage against critical infrastructure have characterised the year. What lessons do you draw from this?

– An important lesson is that we often react bilaterally or in parallel when something happens. NATO has the mandate and structures to coordinate these types of measures and create resilience in a way that individual countries cannot.

Information sharing is highlighted as central, but also the need for calm.

– Awareness is necessary, but fear and panic are among the most unconstructive things there are. We must carefully evaluate information before drawing far-reaching conclusions.

 

Finally – what do you want to be the clear conclusion when we look back on 2025?

– That NATO membership is the foundation for effective Nordic cooperation. The opportunities that have now arisen are very large. There is really nothing stopping us from going very far in integration and cooperation in the future.