Russia-Scandinavia relations (21st Century Crisis)

'Russo-Scandinavian relations (Russian: Русско-скандинавские отношения, Norse: Getayim Rusland-Scandinavia) or Russo-Nordic relations refer to the bilateral relations between the United Russian Republics and the Union of Scandinavia, and are a continuation of Soviet-Scandinavian relations, as well as Nordic relations with White Russian emigrés.

Scandinavia shares special and important relations with Russia, similar to other NATO states such as Greece, Austria, Hungary and Germany. Russia is the largest importer of vehicles, renewable energy, oil, natural gas and precious metals to Scandinavia. Scandinavia on the other hand, exports electronics and computer products to Russia.

Russia and Scandinavia, along with the Baltic states, are members of the Northern European Polytechnic Coalition, and the two share close relations, especially in computer technology, renewable energy and computer science fields. Over 57% of Russian universities have partnerships with Scandinavian ones, likewise 43% of Scandinavian universities have partnerships with those in Russia.

Russian is also a popular foreign language in Scandinavia, and the same can be said of Norse in Russia.

Despite being a NATO state, Russia also imports military equipment to Scandinavia.

However, there have been points of military tension as the two are considered military foes, largely owing to the histories of the Soviet Union's wars against Scandinavia, the Nordic annexation of Estonia and the issue of Karelia and the Baltic states. Russia and Scandinavia currently compete for domination of the Arctics and the Baltics, however both countries have begun to deny any such competition.

History
After the communists took over Russia following the Red Army victory in the Russian Civil War, White Russian emigrés fled to Sweden and Finland. At first not initially embraced after the Russo-Swedish War and the Finnish War of Independence, the mutual hate for communism brought the native Scandinavian and Russian emigré communities together. During the Winter War and the Scandinavian-Soviet War, many of the Russian emigré communities served in the RNF as translators between Russian and Norse. This heavily contributed to the successes of the Nordic forces against the invading Soviets. Many Red Army soldiers also defected to the RNF. During World War II, Scandinavia sided with Germany, and after German plans to invade the Soviet Union from the West via Poland failed, they launched a second phase from Scandinavia, which joint German and Nordic forces briefly conquered the Karelian Peninsula, and fought the Soviets all the way into Leningrad. After the war, the Scandinavians housed ex-Nazis, and it is often said that the Nazis and Scandinavians were plotting a Fourth Reich. Eventually, Scandinavia gave them up in fears of retaliation from both the Western allies and the Soviets. During the Cold War, Scandinavia chose not to join either pact. Scandinavia prepared forces for both a NATO and a Warsaw Pact invasion. Scandinavia also invested in its own nuclear weapons program. Despite being neutral, Scandinavia was still Western-leaning and considered itself a bastion of resistance to communism. It was known as the "Land Where Monarchy Defeated Communism". However, Scandinavia has begun to show White Nationalist elements, with reports of Nazi flags being flown all over Scandinavia. This led to both NATO and the Warsaw Pact increasing military activity near the Nordic borders. In 1965, Scandinavia banned all anti-Semitism and sides with Israel. This included punishing all ex-Nazis in Scandinavia. After the Great Secessions, the Free Karelia Movement once again, mushroomed in activity calling for a Nordic invasion of Karelia and Estonia. However, Danielsson ignored the pleas. When it was revealed that Danielsson was looking to begin a military allyship with the Soviets, he was ousted from his position as the Interim Union Council Leader, and accused of being a Soviet puppet, a Soviet spy, or both. He was replaced by Eduard Heinsberg, the coup leader and veteran of the Scandinavian navy. Heinsberg entered Scandinavia into NATO and the European Union, and aided NATO's campaigns in the Balkans against the Soviet-backed regime of Slobadan Milošević. When NATO suggested a hot war against the Soviet Union, Heinsberg pitched in the Karelia idea. However, the NATO hot war against the Soviets never took place. In 2001, Joseph Mannerheim became Union Council Leader. Mannerheim worked to restore economic and political relations with Russia. At that time, Russia was under the Vladimir Zhirinovsky presidency. Joseph Mannerheim developed special and positive relations with Vladimir Zhirinovsky, due to sharing Christian right views. Zhirinovsky also praised the Scandinavians for standing up to Stalin, as Zhirinovsky was an avid anti-communist and Russian nationalist. However, Zhirinovsky stated that he believes Karelia is rightfully Russian territory, and opposes any attempts to separate it from Russia. He also believes that Georgia rightfully belonged to Russia. However, Mannerheim and Zhirinovsky was very divided on the Iraq issue, with Mannerheim actively supporting the war, and Zhirinovsky opposing it. Mannerheim sent forces to aid the United States-led invasion of Iraq. Despite pleas from Bush, Zhirinovsky refused to partake in the Coalition invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Mannerheim increased economic relations with Russia, essentially reversing a century-long worth of bitterness between the two countries. Scandinavia and Russia oversaw the building of gas and oil pipelines, as well as the Karelia-Finland Railway. Russian and Nordic militaries often conducted joint-drills. Mannerheim allowed Nordic citizens to conduct business in Russia and vice versa. In 2010, Union Council Leader Frederick Verronen stated that the Russian military was justified in the Sana'a Embassy Incident, ultimately leading to his sudden loss of popularity. During the 2010 Scandinavian Elections that summer, Verronen lost a landslide vote against Fredrik Reinfeldt of the Liberal-Progressive Party. Reinfeldt expelled Russian diplomats from Scandinavia as a result of the Sana'a Embassy Incident, calling Russia's actions in Yemen as an "act of aggression and a violation of simple human rights." At this point, relations between Scandinavia and Russia reached an all-time low. Russia halted gas and oil exports to Scandinavia. Other NATO states enacted sanctions against Russia, embargoing gold exports from Russia and importing from Turkmenistan instead. This damaged the Russian GDP from $4.72 trillion to $3.28 trillion. A BBC World Poll revealed in 2012 that 83.6% of Scandinavian citizens saw Russia and Russian influence as being negative. About 12.3% stated a positive view. This made Scandinavia one of the most anti-Russian nations in the world. In 2011, Scandinavia aided North Syria, In which, Russia decided to aid Bashar al-Assad. Scandinavian and Russian warplanes nearly clashed in aerial reconnaissance operations. Scandinavian air forces were reported to have aided Saudi forces in Yemen during the Russia-Saudi Arabia Standoff in Yemen. Scandinavian officials have neither confirmed or rejected these statements. In 2015, Russia sent the Admiral Kuzsnetsov to send extended aid to South Syria. That would be Scandinavia's last year of major involvement. With the victory of John Mannerheim of the People's Patriotic Party in the 2015 Scandinavian Elections, Mannerheim ordered the withdrawal of major forces from the Middle East. However, it would, keep a small contingent force, to station at the overseas British base in Aleppo. Mannerheim re-instated Russian diplomats into Scandinavia. John Mannerheim praised Russia for their ability to fight terrorists, noting the various Russian successes in Yemen, South Syria, Egypt and Libya. Although Mannerheim stated that Scandinavia will remain a NATO and European Union state, it would, cooperate with Russia in anti-terrorist activities. Mannerheim stated, "I love the West, and being part of NATO and the European Union, but no less can one doubt Russia's ability to fight terrorists. I mean, I surely don't agree with everything that Russia does, for we all have our difference of interests and opinions. But just look what Russia's been able to do in the Middle East, you barely hear of ISIS anymore." Scandinavian relations with Russia at this point resembles that of Russia's relations with Greece, Austria, Hungary and Germany, all NATO states with friendly relations to Russia. However, like Trump, John Mannerheim's electoral victory has led to speculations of Russian meddling. However, during the 2017 Unrest in the Baltics, Russia's decision to send peacekeeping forces in the Baltics infuriated Scandinavia, arguing that the Baltics was under Nordic influence. At this point, Russo-Nordic relations again, took a blow as both countries sent their military forces into the Baltics. Russian and Nordic AFVs faced each other in Finland, which each country nearly firing upon one another. In 2018, John Mannerheim and Vladimir Putin came to a mutual agreement to withdraw military forces from the Baltics. However, it was reported that Russia was not following through, and reports of Russian soldiers being seen in southern Lithuania. The Estonian Aerial Battalion sent warplanes near the Russian border. The Russians returned the favor by conducting surveillance operations in Karelia, near the border with Estonia. At the House of Odin in Stockholm, Putin said, "It was never my intent to start a war with the people of Scandinavia, Union Council Leader John Mannerheim was protecting Nordic interests, we were protecting Russian interests. In the end of the day, we have decided that the people of the Baltics are now in a safe and secure place and position. We hope to continue positive relations with Scandinavia." Mannerheim stated, "We do not want war with Russia, Russia is our neighbor and an important trading partner." Putin also approved for the opening of Scandinavian pastry and coffee chain Odinuts in Russia, opening two branches in Vyborg, St. Petersburg and Moscow. In addition, Russia gave the greenlight for the sales of S-400 air defense systems and T-14 Armata tanks to Scandinavia. Scandinavia has also expressed interest in the purchase and acquisition of the Sukhoi Su-57. Scandinavia also recognized the Russian acquisition of Armenia and the re-unification of Alaska with the rest of Russia.