From the corridors of the Pentagon to the halls of Congress, the center of gravity in transatlantic security runs through Washington D.C. During his stint in the U.S. capital, Finland’s Defense Attaché Juha Helle has had a chance to witness a shift in the sole superpower’s priorities toward the Western Hemisphere and the Arctic region, reflecting a broader and more complex strategic landscape.  

Not only have the U.S. priorities shifted, so has the nature of Nordic defense. Since 2024, all five Nordic countries have been NATO members. With these two simultaneous and monumental developments, Helle is leaving behind a completely different position he entered four years ago. 

More Complex Strategic Focus 

Washington is known to be the global hotspot where big decisions are made, especially in defense. According to Finland’s Defense Attaché to the U.S., Juha Helle, the U.S. strategic landscape has become more diversified in the past few years.  

– The Western Hemisphere has become a ‘new’ focus in U.S. foreign policy. Not to forget that the instability in the Middle East continues to shape the broader picture, Helle notes, when we meet him at his sunny embassy suite on Massachusetts Avenue, NW.  

At the same time, regions that were previously less prominent in Washington’s day-to-day discourse have, in his view, gained considerably more attention than before. A good example is the Greenland case which dominated world headlines just a few weeks ago.  

– The Arctic region is a regular item on the strategic agenda these days. That was not the case in the past.  

He concludes that the Russian unprovoked attack and offensive operation against the sovereign state of Ukraine have remained as a constant core issue during his tenure.   

On the lookout for opportunities in the Nordic Defense Sector 

Rather than focusing on constraints, Helle is encouraged by the opportunities now available to the Nordic defense industry now that all five countries in the block are NATO members.  

– We are now all under one command called Joint Force Command Norfolk. On top of that, all Nordic nations, including Iceland, are largely willing and committed to investing in defense. Additionally, we can now develop collective defense, which means that Nordic nations are no longer working alone or in silos. Everything else flows from that fact. 

Colonel Helle sees a real difference.   

– When I started as Defense Attaché, there were ten Finnish soldiers serving in different positions in the United States. Now the number is close to 50, and that does not even include the F-35 program. 

The Nordic Role Within NATO 

Looking ahead, Helle sees the Nordic countries forming an increasingly cohesive bloc within the Alliance. 

– Everything in NATO must be balanced with 360-degree thinking. But the Nordic nations form a very natural subgroup defending the Nordic corner of NATO. That’s why I believe Nordic cooperation will only widen and deepen in the coming years while it's importance in the eyes of the U.S. also grows.  

At the same time, the transatlantic balance of responsibilities is evolving.  

– Europeans have the primary responsibility for defending Europe, whereas the U.S. has its focus elsewhere with one exception: the U.S. nuclear umbrella still covers Europe. 

Navigating Uncertainty in Washington 

Despite long-term continuity, some uncertainty remains regarding U.S. strategic priorities. 

– At this moment, it is a bit unclear where the U.S. focus will be later, Helle says. 

However, he points to key signals that Nordic defense leaders should always continue to monitor, particularly in the context of upcoming U.S. midterm elections. 

– Both parties are committed to investing in the military and they believe in acquiring peace through strength. 

Strengthening Finnish–U.S. Defense Cooperation 

For Finland and the United States, practical cooperation remains the cornerstone of the relationship. Helle emphasizes the importance of reliability in major capability programs. 

– Commitment to stick to timelines whether that is the F-35 program from the U.S. to Finland or the icebreaker program from Finland to the U.S. 

Looking ahead, he identifies space as an area with significant untapped potential.  

– Finland has numerous top-notch industrial companies including ICEYE and Kuva Space, to name few. Their technology together with American knowledge and traditions will be a good mix when building our national space capabilities. On top of that, our Arctic location might be of interest to the United States later.  

Industrial cooperation, while still developing, is supported by Finland’s new status within the Alliance.  

– Opportunities are limited as such, but to a certain extent related to infrastructure programs in Finland. The most important thing for Finnish industry is the fact that Finland is a NATO nation. 

This interview was made by Henna Alanko, Program Coordinator at Miltton USA