Space and Defense
Abstract
This article examines how Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has intensified nuclear reliance among Arctic states. Applying a new framework of “conventional-nuclear vulnerability,” it analyzes the nuclear policy shifts of Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The findings show that Finland and Sweden pursued NATO membership to secure nuclear guarantees, while Russia adopted riskier nuclear signaling and lowered thresholds for nuclear use. These developments highlight the growing centrality of nuclear deterrence in Arctic security, underscoring the challenges for U.S. and NATO policymakers in balancing assurance and deterrence in a volatile regional environment.
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DOI
10.32873/uno.dc.sd.16.01.1305
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Wise, Molly and Hussong, Lillian
(2025)
"Atomic Offsets: Nuclear Policy Shifts for Arctic States in the Wake of Moscow’s Special Military Operation,"
Space and Defense: Vol. 16:
No.
1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.32873/uno.dc.sd.16.01.1305
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/spaceanddefense/vol16/iss1/5
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