Context: The article discusses the current fields of cooperation of Nordic-Baltic countries with India.

Background

• In this year’s Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, the 8 Nordic-Baltic countries, are participating together as representatives of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation, the NB8.

Nordic-Baltic countries

• It includes the governments of 8 countries of the north: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.

Members 

• 5 Nordic Countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

• 3 Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

• They are linked geographically, and share deep historical, social, economic and cultural ties.

• Their advanced economies are outward-looking, innovation-driven, complementary and fully integrated into the world’s largest single market area, the European Common Market.

• These countries share a commitment to democracy and human rights. They are all champions of an international order based on multilateralism and international law.

• Aim: To discuss important regional and international issues in an informal atmosphere.

• Chair: In 2024, the NB8 is chaired by Sweden which was taken over from Latvia.

• NB8 Wise Men Report: It is also known as Birkavs-Gade Report.

• It provides concrete guidelines for promoting cooperation between the 8 countries.

• e-PINE: Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE) was launched by the United States in 2003.

What are the current fields of cooperation of Nordic-Baltic countries with India?

• Diverse fields such as innovation, green transition, maritime, health, intellectual property rights, new technologies, space cooperation and artificial intelligence, student exchanges, culture and tourism.

• Trade and investment figures between both are steadily increasing.

• In a time of geopolitical shifts, the security of the Nordic-Baltic region and the Indo-Pacific is interlinked.

What are the proposals of the NB8 for India?

• The Ukraine conflict has affected global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth. Hence, the NB8 wants to cooperate with India in the following manner:

• Increasing Strain and Need for Cooperation: In a more interconnected world, challenges are shared and require us to work together. For instance, Ukraine conflict. Global health, climate-related and geopolitical shocks that have caused significant strain to people, the international system and on the planet.

• Positive Agenda: There is an urgent need to get back to a more positive agenda for global cooperation. Building on our strong commitment to the multilateral system, it wants to increase dialogue and cooperation on the issues that dominate India’s and other global partners’ agendas.