Nordic Ledger

By Mika Horelli, Brussels The shadow of Donald Trump's return to power has Europe bracing for impact. Few Europeans harbour illusions about Trump's views on alliances and international cooperation. However, Finnish emeritus professor of international law Martti Koskenniemi offered stark clarity in a recent interview with Finland's national broadcaster, Yle. His views illuminate the uneasy realities Europe may soon face, underscoring vulnerabilities and strategic uncertainties that stretch far beyond Finland's borders. Koskenniemi's assessment, articulated in a detailed conversation aired on March 29, 2025, on Yle's "Ykkösaamu," is blunt. According to him, Trump's ambitions include deliberately weakening the European Union and fundamentally altering the continent's geopolitical landscape into competing spheres of influence dominated by major global powers—primarily the United States and Russia. In Koskenniemi's view, "breaking up the ...

By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS Logical arguments often fail to change opinions contrary to what one might expect. This phenomenon stems from the complex workings of the human mind and how we form and maintain our beliefs. As a journalist, I observe the world and its events, striving to understand the causes and effects of various phenomena. (I confess, I've always been a terrible chess player, which perhaps indicates my difficulty in anticipating where each move will lead.) While I certainly have my views on various issues, it is a good day for someone to change my opinion by presenting their case with sufficiently convincing facts. Ideally, we should learn something new daily, often adjusting our perceptions to better align with the latest verified information. It's tempting to think that a good argument can change anyone's mind. If facts are presented clearly and logically, shouldn't the other party understand the core issue and realise the truth? But in reality, this r...

By Mika Horelli, Brussels If writing truthful history isn't outlawed, it'll be fascinating to ponder how future generations might objectively describe our current times. Throughout history, we've become accustomed to witnessing a steady flow of researchers from Europe to the United States, attracted by superior working conditions—and salaries. Now, this trend seems to be reversing, at least temporarily. The reason is America's increasingly hostile political environment towards science and research. "Alternative truths" have alarmingly become the dominant trend. Donald Trump's return to the White House has driven many American researchers, including those originally from other countries, to seek new opportunities in Europe. European universities and research institutions have quickly responded, offering attractive opportunities to their American counterparts. Brussels' Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is among the pioneers. The university recen...

By Mika Horelli, Brussels There are topics where public discussion feels like walking a tightrope. E-cigarettes are one such topic. Simply writing about it in anything but an absolutely negative tone exposes a journalist to accusations of indirectly marketing a product harmful to health. However, I'm now taking a conscious risk. From the start, I want to clarify that I have not received any compensation for writing this text, nor is my goal to promote the sale of any product. I have also never been a smoker - neither of traditional cigarettes nor e-cigarettes, and I have no intention of ever starting. It's completely clear to me that smoking in all its forms should be eliminated. I'm writing about this to reflect on the challenge we face when public discussion of a controversial topic becomes taboo. My father died of lung cancer 43 years ago. He was then ten years younger than I am now and had smoked for decades. Afterwards, there were sometimes debates within the family ab...

By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS I suspect grey hairs have multiplied at an unprecedented rate among the leadership of the American defence giant Lockheed Martin’s Headquarters in Bethesda. This week's international news has reported how Portugal, Canada, and Germany are now seriously reconsidering their fighter jet orders from the United States. Portugal has frozen its order of 12 F-35 fighters, Canada is reassessing its massive order of 88 F-35 jets, and Germany is reportedly critically reviewing its order of 35 F-35 aircraft. The Trump administration has dismantled decades of carefully built trust with allies in just a few months. Poland's recent demand for an urgent European alternative to billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system—now viewed as doing Donald Trump's dirty work—also reflects this crisis of trust. Europe has responded by developing its satellite network, IRIS², which is expected to be fully operational by 2030. This urgency highlights just how s...

By Mika Horelli, BRUSSELS On Tuesday, March 4, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented a plan to strengthen Europe's defence and support Ukraine. The plan, "ReArm Europe," seeks to mobilise up to €800 billion in funding. Its core component is a €150 billion support package, through which the EU would offer loans to member states for joint defence procurements. Additionally, the Commission proposes allowing EU countries to increase their defence spending without violating budgetary constraints by introducing a special exemption rule from the EU's fiscal regulations. The EU's budget would also be tapped for defence-related projects, including redirecting unused regional development funds. The plan also aims to attract private investors by expanding the European Investment Bank's role in financing the defence industry. Von der Leyen estimated that if EU member states increased their defence spending by an average of 1.5% of GDP, it wou...