By Hammad Kahlun
International News Correspondent
Scandinavian News Finland
The first-ever NATO Eastern Flank summit was held in Helsinki, bringing together key nations from NATO’s eastern border to discuss security, economy, and collective defense.
Combined, the Eastern Flank countries represent the world’s eighth-largest economy, with a total GDP of approximately $2.3 trillion — larger than Russia’s and significantly more productive on a per-capita basis.
The region is home to nearly 120 million people, underlining its growing strategic and economic importance within NATO.
If these nations allocate 5% of their GDP to defense, their combined military spending would reach around $115 billion per year, strengthening NATO’s collective deterrence capabilities.
The summit highlighted the increasing role of Eastern Flank countries in shaping Europe’s security architecture amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The summit builds on earlier discussions about NATO’s expanding role in Northern Europe, as reported by Scandinavian News Finland.
About The Author
