Prime Minister of Iceland Kristrun Frostadottir, Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen and Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo listen as Prime Minister Mark Carney responds to a question during a joint news conference following the Canada-Nordic summit at Government House in Oslo on March 15.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
On March 15, Globe Europe correspondent Paul Waldie reported on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to Oslo, and his plans to band together with European leaders and form a bloc of middle powers to influence world affairs.
While they offered few details on what specifically that would entail, the leaders of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland talked about deepening their co-operation and using their status as a group of Arctic countries to be a voice in NATO, the European Union and other multinational organizations.
Whether it was optimism about the new partnership or doubt that it would make a difference against pressures from the United States, our readers had a lot of thoughts about the subject. There were over 700 comments on the article. Here are some highlights.
Potential in the middle powers partnership
From user LAS47:
I agree in collaboration with reasonable people. There’s no winning with bad actors. This alliance seems wise.
From user MMGM:
A bit shocked to see people who think these efforts are just empty words. Building smart and strategic alliances isn’t automatic. Think of all the major geopolitical shocks we’ve seen this year. Think of U.S. troops taking over Greenland or Alberta simply because it suits their military, economic, or strategic vision. Military coordination can’t be built overnight, and economic cooperation can’t either.
From user Fred8888:
Think of it as starting a conversation. Trump has said he doesn’t need to use military force to achieve the annexation of Canada because he can destroy our economy and achieve annexation through economic force. Trump has not ruled out using force to annex Greenland. We are, so to speak, on the menu. It’s in our interest to form stronger alliances with like-minded countries even if we have no clear notion of what will become of these early conversations.
From user app_79202128:
I’m a Swede, reading the Globe since I’m interested in Canada since been working there from time to time. I think the meeting was most timely. The prime ministers can do nothing but open doors. And they did. Details are to be carried out by other decision makers in each country respectively. In democratic countries, the room within which ministers can work is defined by the general opinion. With the doors now opened, we are to take action, being blessed by the PMs more general agreements. So, let’s start going! Stop complaining! The sky is the limit!
From user Joe Canuck:
Clearly this bloc will be one voice at NATO and they will now plan how to work strategically together to increase Arctic defence while strengthening their economies. This bloc will likely even work together on common goals outside of defence by using their group strength as a trade leverage with the USA. This, to me, can only mean greater investments amongst these bloc members and less investment with the U.S. especially for defence purchases.
Questions and criticisms around the impact
From user JeffSpooner:
They offer few details as to how this is supposed to happen , as announcements like this never do. Simply because no one really gave it any thought. It’s simple to say “we will work together”, and then move on. If opportunities arise they might take advantage of it, but there is no written commitment. It’s all about the appearance of doing something while doing nothing.
From user Shanedd:
Middle powers? Iceland has a population of approximately 300,000 citizens. The 154th largest economy. If you add all these countries together you might have one middle power.
From user LM21:
Middle powers? Iceland has a population of approximately 300,000 citizens. The 154th largest economy. If you add all these countries together you might have one middle power.
Reacting to U.S. pressures
From user self taught pundit:
Seems weird to say this. But I would like to Thank Donald Trump for creating the environment and conditions that made these leaders realize this was needed. Something so common sense that the real question one may ask is why did it take Donald Trump to result in this collaboration?
From user Get-Real:
This type of diplomacy and strategic thinking is what has been missing for years if not decades… Yielding to Hegemony is not intelligent. Look at the British PM, last week he offered to send an Aircraft Carrier Battery to the gulf only to be ridiculed by the U.S. president. Now, on Sunday morning he’s asking for help from Allies.
Entries have been edited for length and clarity.