Sweden, Norway and Finland today signed a co-operation agreement on strengthened military operational defense co-operation in the North Calotte. In an interview with TV4, Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist says that the increased cooperation will act as a deterrent to Russia
– This is a common ambition from both Sweden, Finland and Norway. And this is of course related to the security situation that has changed over time, where we see an increased Russian structure in the Murmansk region with navy and other resources, we see the establishment of a base near the Finnish border Alakurti, we see a structure throughout it arctic area from the Russian side and more of exercise and operational behavior at a more advanced level.
The agreement on extended military and operational defense cooperation between Sweden, Norway and Finland was signed today in Posanger in northern Norway. The agreement is a continuation of previous cooperation and means that the three countries will have the ability to carry out coordinated military operations in crisis and conflict.
They must be able to jointly plan military operations to protect common interests in, for example, the northern parts of Finland, Sweden and Norway. Collaboration on planning will now start in a strategic planning group
says Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist.
– Sweden, Norway and Finland are prepared to jointly take responsibility for stability, peace and threshold-raising activities in this area. This is not aggressively directed in that way, this is just a way of marking our will for sovereignty and independence and that we also understand the security policy situation. We understand what’s going on.
Source: ICELAND NEWS