For decades, the Nordic countries generally leaned towards neutrality in armed conflicts. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted the end of this Nordic neutrality. Since then, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark have united to provide support to Ukraine by sending supplies and actively participating in the sanctions imposed by the West.

Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan explores how the Scandinavian countries are rediscovering each other after “sleeping” for many decades. He argues that, in a post-American world, these northern European naval powers are creative U.S. allies that “punch above their weight.”

Excerpted from Peter’s Jan. 22 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:

Today’s video comes from Doubtful Sound during my backpacking trip to New Zealand. We’re talking about an area in northern Europe fractured by history — the Scandinavian region. What was once a series of powerful and interconnected Viking port cities has been a fairly sleepy backwater for the past 300 years… but it might be time for a family reunion.

If there’s one thing that can get the family back together, it’s a common enemy. And Russia is the big bad wolf. This cluster of countries will reunite with similar geopolitical orientations, absent external powers pulling them apart, and Sweden will be at the center of it all.

The Brits and the Americans will be the best options for external allies. The Brits want to hold onto their naval independence, and preventing a single power (like Russia) from emerging is in their best interest. For a very small price, the Americans would gain a powerful ally that punches above its weight and dovetails with American power.

While we might not see epic battles as portrayed in the show “Vikings,” this cluster of Scandinavian countries will be a region to watch in the coming years.

Access Peter’s other post-American world commentaries:

• East Asia in a post-American world
• Romania in a post-American world
• Australia in a post-American world
• India in a post-American world
• How should Turkey navigate in a post-American world?
• Northern Africa in a post-American world
• Israel in a post-American world
• Germany’s steep decline poses dire threat to future of EU
• The Middle East in a post-American world
• Getting ready for the post-American world