Speakers: CDR Stefan Lundqvist, PhD (Swedish Defence University) with Guest Host Dr. Nicholas Wright (Intelligent Biology)
Date: 4 June 2025
Speaker Session Summary
SMA hosted a speaker session with CDR Stefan Lundqvist, PhD(Swedish Defence University) with Guest Host Dr. Nicholas Wright (Intelligent Biology) as part of its SMA EUCOM Speaker Series.
Russia and China have been deepening their cooperation in the Arctic through joint military exercises and expanded economic development, posing an increasing threat to other Arctic nations such as Sweden. Despite suffering losses in Ukraine, Russia continues to prioritize its Arctic activities. It has re-established the Leningrad Military District and reinforced units in the region that were previously diverted to the Ukrainian front.
Dr. Lundqvist highlighted the strategic importance of the Norwegian Sea between Svalbard and mainland Norway, as well as the GIUK Gap (Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom). While Russia previously used these waters for military exercises as political signaling, its activities have since shifted toward the Barents Sea following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. This change signals a strategic recalibration aimed at bolstering Russia’s baston defense.
China, which labeled itself a “near-Arctic state” in its 2018 Arctic White Paper, has helped mitigate the impact of Western sanctions on Russia by increasing imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG). However, these same sanctions have limited the extent to which China can deepen its investment in Russian LNG projects. Economic collaboration between Russian and Chinese companies continues, alongside expanded joint military and coast guard exercises in both the Arctic and the North Pacific. Additionally, China has increased its research cooperation with Russia on Svalbard.
Dr. Lundqvist emphasized the strategic significance of Nordic nations to NATO and European defense in the Baltic region. He noted Iceland’s role in hosting NATO air defenses and Svalbard’s function as a hub for European satellite communications, providing global coverage for both civilian and military operations. He also stressed the need for Nordic countries to bolster their own capabilities—particularly in light of the U.S. shift toward prioritizing the Asia-Pacific region. This is increasingly vital as the likelihood of confrontation between NATO and Russia in the Arctic grows. Sweden itself has maintained strong security ties with the United States, having conducted air surveillance for the United States during the Cold War. Today, Sweden contributes to NATO operations in the High North through the provision of weapons, intelligence, and leadership—enhancing the alliance’s credible deterrence posture in the region.
Briefing Materials
Biography: CDR Stefan Lundqvist serves as military lecturer in the Department of War Studies at the Swedish Defence University (SEDU) since 2010. He is an active-duty officer holding a Ph.D. degree in Political Science from Åbo Akademi University, Finland. Until his marked turn towards academia, CDR Lundqvist served in various sea- and shore-based positions at tactical and operational levels of command. His research interests include geopolitics, geo-economy, military strategy and security cooperation in the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions, as well as pedagogy. CDR Lundqvist is Pro-Dean at SEDU – i.e. Vice-chair of its Research and Education Board, Chairing its Syllabus Committee. CDR Lundqvist is the Sweden Chair to the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, Anchorage, U.S. His research has appeared in scholarly books and journals including Studies in European Affairs, Defence Studies and the RUSI Journal and he is a regular reviewer for academic journals.
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