Nordic Countries in May 2026: the most important developments in security
Sweden's defence moves stood out in the Nordic countries in May 2026. On May 28 Sweden announced it will donate 16 Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, with President Zelensky visiting Sweden to finalise the deal, and Ukraine will buy up to 20 newer-model Gripens. On May 19 Sweden ordered four frigates from France's Naval Group in a deal valued at between 4 and 5 billion dollars. On May 5 Sweden announced a new foreign intelligence service, and on May 3 it launched its first spy satellite to monitor Russia. Canada chose Sweden's Saab surveillance aircraft over US models. On May 4 Sweden arrested the Chinese captain of a vessel suspected of Russia links, and on May 22 it said it suspects one of its citizens of espionage and conspiracy to commit murder in Moscow.
Drones and airspace were a second concern. On May 15 Finland said the drone threat over Helsinki had ended and reopened the airport, after hundreds of bus trips in the city were cancelled. Drones crashed in Finland and the Baltic states, and at the end of the month a Russian plane reportedly violated Finnish airspace. Finland's espionage probe reached the Defence Forces and the President's Office, according to Yle. A Russian envoy warned that the appearance of nuclear weapons in Finland would create risks for Russia, and Russia was reported to be holding nuclear drills near NATO borders.
Norway also drew attention. On May 27 it became the ninth country to join France's nuclear defence umbrella, and NATO deployed its Phoenix system to Norway for the first time. Norway opened a Leopard 2A8 production line and received its first two tanks. On May 15 it confirmed that it had revoked missile licences for Malaysia, citing stricter export controls, and Malaysia later sought 216 million euros in compensation from a Norwegian company. Lithuania planned to buy 936 Finnish-made Patria armoured vehicles. At a NATO meeting on May 22 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US troop movements are not a punishment, and NATO said Iran's attack on freedom of navigation affects all members.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.