Otto Svendsen

Associate Fellow, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program
Otto Svendsen

Otto Svendsen is an associate fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he provides research and analysis on political, economic, and security developments in Europe. Prior to joining CSIS, Otto was affiliated with Albright Stonebridge Group, the Atlantic Council, and the National Democratic Institute. He holds an MSc in international relations from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a BSc in international business from Copenhagen Business School.

 

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How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America

A potential U.S. force posture reduction in Europe will leave the continent vulnerable to further Russian aggression. Europe needs a bold action plan to mitigate capability gaps and ensure deterrence of Russia with limited U.S. involvement.

Report by Max Bergmann and Otto Svendsen — October 8, 2025

Audio Briefs

Seizing Greenland Is Worse Than a Bad Deal

An audio version of “Seizing Greenland Is Worse Than a Bad Deal,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Otto Svendsen. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Otto Svendsen — January 22, 2025

Audio Briefs

Seizing Greenland Is Worse Than a Bad Deal

Taking Greenland through force or coercion would not just be a bad deal for the United States—it could become a legacy-defining unforced error for the Trump administration.

Commentary by Otto Svendsen — January 21, 2025

The Eurofile

Greenland Back on Trump’s Menu and a Conversation with Jeremy Cliffe

Max, Donatienne, and Otto discuss Trump’s recent statements about Greenland and the reactions to Elon Musk’s interjections into European politics. They are then joined by Jeremy Cliffe, editorial director and senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, to preview the upcoming German elections and Europe’s approach to Trump’s return to the White House.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Donatienne Ruy, and Otto Svendsen — January 16, 2025

CSIS

Defending the North Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

The Arctic is increasingly characterized by geopolitical and military tensions. President Trump's aggressive engagement strategy, greater Sino-Russian cooperation, and NATO’s Scandinavian enlargement will likely shape the region’s security landscape for the coming years.

Report by Max Bergmann, Otto Svendsen, Marc Jacobsen, Rebekka Åsnes Sagild, Eskil Jakobsen, and Øystein Solvang — January 14, 2025

Power Plays: Europe’s Response to the Energy Crisis

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine triggered an unprecedented energy crisis in Europe. While Europe emerged as a stronger energy actor and its response yielded remarkable results, challenges remain that will impact the continent’s politics and economic competitiveness for years to come.

Report by Max Bergmann, Cy McGeady, Otto Svendsen, Mathias Zacarias, and Ignacio Urbasos — September 3, 2024

What Will Happen at NATO’s Washington Summit?

From July 9–11, all 32 NATO allies and several global partners will gather in Washington, D.C., for a historic summit, 75 years since the alliance’s founding. This meeting comes at a perilous time, with NATO facing a war in Europe amid several global crises.

Critical Questions by Sean Monaghan, Sissy Martinez, Andrea Leonard Palazzi, and Otto Svendsen — July 2, 2024