Marcin Winniczuk
Political commentator
Marcin Winniczuk is a writer and educator from the Suwałki region in northeastern Poland, a historic borderland shaped by different cultures, languages and historical experiences.
Drawing on experience of both Polish and Norwegian society, he writes about history, peace, geopolitics, media criticism and relations between Eastern and Western Europe, with particular emphasis on historical memory and critical perspectives on power and public debate.
History · peace · geopolitics · media criticism
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“Frankly, Norway sucks. Norway has become a shithouse country, actually.”
That is how Donald Trump described Norway at a campaign rally in Michigan on 25 October 2026, in connection with the dispute over the Nobel Peace Prize.
The remark brings a far more important question to the fore: how much real independence do the Nordic countries have in their relationship with the United States?
NATO and American dominance
NATO depends heavily on American military power, intelligence, logistics and strategic resources. Although member states formally decide their own security policy, their actual freedom of action is limited by this dependence.
Political changes in Washington can have direct consequences for security across the entire Nordic region.
It is therefore relevant to discuss whether the Nordic countries should develop a defence capability that can function to a far greater extent without American support.
A Nordic defence union could be an alternative, including with a view to a more independent relationship with NATO.
Five countries with much in common
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland share history, culture, democratic traditions and fundamental social values.
They also have common strategic interests in the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea region.
Closer Nordic cooperation could include joint defence planning, military forces, defence industry, energy security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Cooperation through NORDEFCO shows that there is already a foundation to build on.
At the same time, the Nordic countries together have considerable economic resources, advanced technology and strong public institutions. This also creates opportunities for closer cooperation in industry, trade, research and energy.
A Nordic union?
A Nordic union would not necessarily mean abolishing the existing nation states. It could also be about shared institutions and more coordinated policy in areas where the countries’ interests coincide.
The relationship with the EU should also be challenged. Given the influence of big capital and strong economic ties to the United States, there is reason to ask whether the current model serves Nordic interests. A Nordic alternative could open the way for greater economic independence, more decentralised ownership and stronger local control over resources and value creation. The economy should first and foremost serve people and local communities, not concentrate power and wealth in ever fewer hands.
Such a development would require democratic decisions and clarification of questions of sovereignty, the economy and international obligations.
In Norway, there is already a cross-party association, Fritt Norden Norge (Free Nordic Norway), which works for Nordic cooperation and greater independence.
An alternative to dependence on the United States
The Nordic countries have the resources, the expertise and the shared interests that could form the basis for closer political and military cooperation.
Why not take seriously the discussion of a Nordic union with a common defence and greater independence from the United States and NATO?
More information about Fritt Norden Norge: https://www.frittnorden.no/
