Trump’s reckless words about NATO obscure the necessary and mutually beneficial nature of America’s system of alliances

Sweden joining NATO will have immense geopolitical consequences

Recent rumors of secret Russian underwater operations across Scandinavia have their (sonar) echoes in similar events from the 1980s.

Appeasement is an incentivizing force behind Turkey’s pursuit of strategic autonomy and extortion.

Long-time neutrals Sweden and Finland appear poised to apply for NATO membership, perhaps as early as this month or during next month’s NATO summit. If these Nordic neighbors do join the alliance, this dramatic change in the European security landscape will be good for them—and for NATO.

Over the centuries, the neutrality of some countries has provided many benefits, including for international law and global diplomacy.