US ambassador lampoons Nordic military pact

The Stoltenberg plan, drafted after years-long consultations with Nordic capitals, was summed up as 'dreams in Polar fog' (Photo: Defence Images)

ANDREW RETTMAN

Today @ 09:18 CET

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Proposals for the five Nordic countries to create a mini-Nato alliance are "dreams in Polar fog" but may be useful for "keeping an eye on Polar bears and Russians", according to the former US ambassador to Norway, Benson Whitney. Mr Whitney used the irreverent language in a confidential cable dated March 2009 and published on Thursday (13 January) by WikiLeaks. His remarks came shortly after Norway's former leader, the 74-year-old Thorvald Stoltenberg, put forward 13 ideas for military co-operation including a Nato-style mutual defence pact. Nordic foreign ministers are to debate the text in April amid growing strategic interest in the High North for energy and trade reasons. UK Prime Minister David Cameron will next week also host a meeting of Nordic and Baltic state leaders on the topic. The US ambassador predicted that the Nordic mutual defence clause is the least likely to fly. "Officials including the PM's foreign policy advisor and the MFA's [foreign ministry's] political director have privately indicated to us that there is little or no interest in a Nordic solidarity declaration in the GON [government of Norway]," he reported, despite the fact the Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, is Thorvald Stoltenberg's son. On joint surveillance flights in Icelandic airspace, he added: "Surprisingly, Norwegian officials have been very critical of this proposal ... expressing strong dislike for this item." On diplomatic and consular co-operation, Mr Whitney said: "Co-operation between foreign services is much more difficult and will likely be limited to countries where none of the Nordics have representation now." The cable was not entirely negative. In his concluding remarks, the ambassador said: "Joint Nordic transport capabilities, medical teams, amphibious units, a stabilization task force and maritime awareness could be important contributions to UN, Nato or US missions." A separate dispatch published on Thursday displays the high level of trust between Sweden and the US, with Stockholm briefing Washington in detail on an upcoming EU foreign ministers' meeting. Swedish diplomat Jonas Wendel in July 2009 told the US charge d'affaires in Stockholm, Robert J. Silverman, about sensitive issues in an upcoming EU foreign ministers meeting. Mr Wendel spoke in detail about the position of fellow US ally Britain on Iran sanctions, but maintained some discretion. Speaking of whether or not the EU will use tough language against Russia, he said the move is being opposed by the "usual members," instead of naming EU capitals. The Wendel dispatch comes after Swedish diplomat Johan Frisell in 2008, in a previously leaked US cable, dished up painful details on internal EU divisions on the Georgia-Russia war. The revelation raised eyebrows among some senior EU officials because internal EU debates are supposed to be kept secret. In another positive note, the Wendel dispatch indicated that EU countries are capable of sticking together in times of crisis.  Commenting on whether EU states might withdraw their ambassadors from Iran after it put a British embassy worker in jail, the cable said: "Solidarity among EU members is strong, and if the discussion is emotionally charged, then the ministers might agree to a withdrawal." For his part, Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt in a dispatch dated December 2009 and published in December 2010 gave a mostly upbeat opinion on the newly-minted EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton. Mr Bildt said that he "knew and liked" Ms Ashton. "He described her as a 'street fighter' with a disciplined mind for bureaucratic battles. While competent and intelligent, Bildt described her as having 'no foreign affairs knowledge'."