Dr. Ries is Associate Professor in Security and Strategy at the Swedish National Defence University. His research focusses on: 1. The global security environment and future trends; 2. Analytical and practical challenges of the new security environment. 3. The essence of strategy and security; 4. European and Nordic security. During the Cold War he worked on the US-Soviet strategic nuclear relationship in the Arctic and Soviet military interests and grand strategy in the north. He has worked 20 years as a researcher in Norway, Finland and Sweden, and 10 years in management positions, as Director of the ITC and Deputy Director of the GCSP in Geneva, Switzerland, and as Director of the Swedish Institute of international Affairs.