The Nordic countries today announced their intention to extend defence cooperation and sign an agreement including measures to facilitate the movement of equipment and soldiers in the region.
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12/11/2026
by
Lusa
Othe nordic countries today announced their intention to extend defence cooperation and sign an agreement containing measures to facilitate the movement of equipment and soldiers in the region.
The aim is to improve the common defensive capacity and contribute to strengthening the deterrence of the Atlantic Alliance in the region, announced the Defence Ministers of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland after a meeting in Oslo.
Norway's Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik stressed the potential to eliminate practical obstacles and adapt legislation and standards, allowing even more flexible operations across their national borders.
“ The whole Nordic region must defend itself together. Our forces must act as one. This gives us greater defensive capacity and makes the region — and Norway — safer,” Sandvik said at a press conference.
Sandvik highlighted the deterrent effect, which also “sends a message to Russia” that he is not dealing with an isolated country, but with a “United Nordic region”.
In a joint statement released at the end of the meeting, the ministers of the five countries — all NATO members since the entry of Finland and Sweden into the Alliance following the Russian invasion of Ukraine — mentioned what they said was a “new chapter” in defence cooperation in the region.