Nato’s newest members’ spending commitments are already ahead of those expressed by several existing members. Last year, Finland spent 2.4% and Sweden 2.2% of their respective GDP on defence, and both aim to raise this to between 2.6% and 3% in the next three years.

Examples of new Nato initiatives on Europe’s northern flank include the establishment of new Nato bases, and efforts to establish joint defence forces, in northern Finland.

Plus the formation of The Joint Nordic Air Command, which brings together Finland’s, Sweden’s, Norway’s and Denmark’s 250 front-line combat aircraft under a joined up command structure, with flexible basing and backed by shared intelligence.

In addition, substantial investments will be required to replenish stockpiles of advanced weapons systems, including missiles and anti-tank systems, [Swedish defence company Saab CEO Micael] Johansson points out.

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Nato’s newest members Sweden and Finland believe they could teach other allied countries a thing or two about defence. They clearly offer new perspectives both on how defence spending should be measured. And perhaps also on how civilian society and private enterprise can play their parts.

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