Never mistake Nordic restraint for weakness. 🇸🇪🇩🇰🇳🇴 In 1993, during the Bosnian War, a Nordic UN battalion showed the world what that meant. NORDBAT 2, composed of Swedish, Danish and Norwegian forces, was led by Colonel Ulf Henricsson — better known as the Sheriff of Vareš. While UN peacekeepers struggled with restrictive rules and bureaucracy, Henricsson had a rather straightforward philosophy: Peacekeeping means protecting people. Not standing around watching them get killed. His soldiers confronted militias, challenged roadblocks and refused to surrender civilians to armed groups. Henricsson even reportedly began one negotiation by audibly loading the 20 mm autocannon of his armoured vehicle. A remarkably effective way of establishing the seriousness of a conversation. The Nordic countries are generally peaceful, pragmatic and diplomatic. But peaceful should never be confused with harmless. Sometimes the most effective way to keep the peace is to make it absolutely clear what happens if someone breaks it. And sometimes the sheriff wears a blue helmet. 😎