Security: Don't Take Defense and Security for Granted - Look for Reliable Solutions
Jarno Limnéll — Member of Parliament
Current security challenges intertwine technology, geopolitics, and environmental issues, emphasizing comprehensive security and Nordic-international cooperation. Data, as the foremost asset, relies on physical infrastructure vulnerable to attacks, necessitating trusted, long-term partnerships, especially in dual-use technology sectors. Emerging warfare domains include cyber and soon the human mind, amplifying the urgency for technological literacy and trust-building. Accelerating digitization—targeting human cognition—demands robust ethical frameworks. International collaboration underpinned by mutual trust is essential for safeguarding security and humanity's future amid rapid technological evolution.
"There are weeks when decades happen—this is our moment. Technology is the biggest trend in human history, reshaping security and society. Trust, not just security, is the foundation. Together with trusted partners, we must foster trust to build a better future."
Summary
- Current times mark rapid and interconnected changes in security, technology, and geopolitics, making predictions difficult. - Nordic and international cooperation is crucial for comprehensive security involving technology, environment, and physical infrastructure. - Physical infrastructure like data cables is vital for security, illustrating the blend of physical and digital security concerns. - Security issues, including technological security, dominate global and local discussions; future warfare domains will likely include the human mind. - Trust and long-term partnerships are essential for security and technological cooperation in defense and business sectors.
Article
Trust, not just security: Nordic nations urged to forge reliable partnerships in age of digital warfare
Security expert warns fintech industry about accelerating technology threats at Nordic summit
In a sobering assessment of global security challenges, Finnish security expert Jarno Limnéll delivered a powerful warning about the intertwined nature of technology and geopolitics at the Nordic Fintech Summit in May 2025. Speaking to industry leaders, Limnéll emphasized that security concerns now encompass everything from data protection to the human mind itself, with trusted partnerships becoming the essential foundation for navigating this complex landscape.
"Sometimes decades pass without change, then weeks come when decades happen. We are living through such a transformational time in security and technology," Limnéll told the audience, setting the tone for a presentation that connected technological developments with profound security implications.
The convergence of physical and digital threats
Drawing on his three decades of experience as a military officer, business professor, and parliamentarian, Limnéll painted a picture of a world where traditional boundaries between physical and digital security have dissolved. He illustrated this through his recent experience at a NATO meeting in Svalbard, where discussions ranged from quantum technologies to Russian submarine activities.
"Security and technology are intertwined with physical world issues. A comprehensive security approach that connects all these phenomena is essential today," he said, citing the example of undersea data cables that were damaged near Svalbard two years ago, demonstrating how physical infrastructure vulnerabilities directly impact digital security.
Limnéll's assessment carried particular weight against the backdrop of ongoing global conflicts, with the war in Ukraine prominently mentioned as just one example of the volatile security environment facing Nordic nations and their allies.
The human mind as the next battlefield
Perhaps most concerning was Limnéll's prediction about the evolution of warfare domains. According to the security expert, NATO currently recognizes five official domains of warfare: land, sea, air, space and cyber. However, he warned that "by the end of this decade, the human mind may become the sixth official domain."
This prediction reflects growing concerns about technologies that can influence human cognition, with Limnéll noting that "the main target of digitalization is actually us—humans. We're digitizing human brains, human beings, and that has profound effects and ethical implications."
Nordic cooperation as a strategic imperative
A central theme throughout Limnéll's address was the critical importance of cooperation, particularly among Nordic nations with shared values and cultural understanding.
"No one can handle security challenges alone, not even the strongest. Trusted, long-term partners and cooperation are vital for secure progress," he emphasized, suggesting that cultural alignment provides a foundation for more secure planning and operations.
This message resonated strongly at the Nordic Fintech Summit, where cross-border collaboration has been a consistent focus. The increasing convergence of civilian and military technologies – what Limnéll referred to as "dual-use" capabilities – makes the careful selection of partners all the more crucial for both national security and business interests.
The trust revolution
In perhaps his most striking conceptual shift, Limnéll proposed replacing the concept of "security" with "trust" as the central organizing principle for addressing modern challenges.
"I replace the word security with trust. Maintaining and strengthening trust with allies is the core challenge and foundation for building a secure future," he stated, explaining that his framework for teaching security studies now places trust at its center.
This perspective offers financial technology companies a different way to think about their security posture – not merely as a technical challenge, but as a relationship-building imperative that extends beyond traditional industry boundaries.
Technological literacy as national security
Limnéll also highlighted the urgent need for greater technological understanding at all levels of society, noting that "we need more technological understanding, more technological skills, and especially more technological discussion in our society."
This call for enhanced technological literacy comes as fintech innovations continue to reshape financial systems globally, with both opportunities and vulnerabilities emerging at an accelerating pace.
As the Nordic Fintech Summit concluded, Limnéll's message served as both warning and call to action – highlighting the inseparable nature of technological innovation and security concerns while emphasizing that trusted partnerships provide the only viable path forward in an increasingly unstable world.
"Picking trusted allies and partners, with whom you can develop whatever you're working on—taking care of humanity, security, and especially trust—is the main issue," he concluded. "It is what we must advance together in order to create a good future."
Part of Nordic Fintech Summit