Three Nordic countries have agreed to create a “military transport corridor” for channelling personnel and equipment amid tensions with its neighbour Russia.
The announcement comes after Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson held talks in Norway on Thursday (20 June), with the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
The aim is to move military personnel quickly from Norwegian ports through Sweden and to Finland.
“Today, we have agreed to establish a military transport corridor through Northern Norway, Northern Sweden and Northern Finland. This will help to ensure that personnel and materiel can be moved quickly from Norwegian ports through Sweden and to Finland,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
The three Nordic leaders on the 19-20th of June met in the north Norwegian town of Bodø to discuss security and military cooperation.
It is in connection with the discussions in Bodø on 19 and 20 June where Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre agreed to strengthen military and civilian cooperation in the Nordic region.
“A credible defence in the north is central to our security. We must then make arrangements to be able to move reinforcements in the north quickly, if the situation requires it. This is only possible if we cooperate closely, both civilly and militarily,” said Støre.
“Together, they will identify bottlenecks, update necessary regulations and legislation, and invest in the necessary infrastructure to ensure fast and efficient military mobility,” Mr Store said, in statement following a meeting with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Norway plays an important role in the defence of Sweden and Finland. And the Nordic countries will play a more important role in the defence of the Baltic Sea and the Baltic countries.
“The national infrastructure must meet NATO’s needs in order to be able to move forces across national borders,” added Støre.
Norway, Sweden and Finland will cooperate even more closely to facilitate allied deterrence and defence operations in the northern areas of the countries.
“Regional defence plans are now being developed for this area. We are now taking the steps needed to make these plans work in practice,” said Norway’s Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram.
