Defense ministers and armament directors for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden met on September 6, 2023, in Stockholm to discuss closer military relationships.
THE WATCH STAFF
High-ranking military officials from four Nordic countries met in September 2023 to reaffirm a common vision for the defense of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. They also discussed a Nordic-Baltic strategic cooperative agreement to buy ammunition to replace stockpiles donated to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
The countries’ defense chiefs and armament directors met in Stockholm on September 6, 2023, in a regular gathering of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO), a regional military planning and logistical structure created to support a common Nordic defense.
According to a June 8, 2023, memo from the government of Sweden titled “Vision for Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO),” the Nordic countries discussed the NORDEFCO initiative with Baltic nations to build up stockpiles of ammunition to replace the ones given to Ukraine. They vetted plans for an upcoming joint military exercise — Nordic Response 24 — and signed off on an overarching vision of an integrated, seamless defense of the region, Sweden’s upcoming integration into NATO was also discussed in advance of a Danish-hosted workshop on September 7-8, 2023.
Once Sweden formally joins NATO, the defense chiefs will sign the Vision for Nordic Defence Cooperation, a document outlining the common objectives of the four countries.
In a memo dated June 8, 2023, Swedish Defence Ministry official Johannes Carlberg wrote that “the Nordic countries are committed to strengthening the deterrence and defence of the Nordic region and the Euro-Atlantic Area.”
“Aligning Nordic defence cooperation with NATO supports and contributes to the collective defense of the Alliance. As NATO members, the Nordic countries are committed to assist each other and other allies. Furthermore, the Nordic countries will align defence capabilities in accordance with national interests and defense responsibilities in NATO,” Carlberg wrote in the three-page memo.
The memo outlines steps for increasing interoperability among militaries, including shared weapons systems and planning. The countries also agreed to continue joint training exercises and align their activities with NATO’s needs.