Nordic Defense Ministers and Chiefs of Defense Gathered to Enhance Joint Combat Power

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Last week, a defense ministers meeting was held within the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO). 

For the first time, the region's chiefs of defense attended the meeting to support strategic and military planning in the High North.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska also took part in the discussions. 

One session was namely dedicated to strengthening defense and deterrence on NATO's northern flank.

With an eye on both the High North and the Nordic region as a whole, several specific work areas in NORDEFCO were discussed, which in turn are part of an overall NATO framework.

Among these are strengthened cooperation on air defense, military mobility, defense materiel and military security of supply.

Air Forces fighting as one

The Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen (National Coalition Party) highlights the development of the Nordics' ability to conduct and command combined joint air operations in peace, crisis and war.

“We have made good progress towards this goal. Together, the Nordic countries will have more than 200 new-generation fighters by the start of the next decade. Meanwhile, there is still work to be done to make combined and integrated operations across borders possible in all situations,” says Häkkänen.

“We will further deepen our cooperation so that we can achieve a combined capability to plan and conduct air operations across the Nordic countries. This is important for strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense in the High North,” he underlines. 

“Very happy to take part in the NORDEFCO meeting where we discussed how to further strengthen our deterrence and defense in the Nordic region. The Arctic matters for the security of all Allies,” writes NATO's Deputy Secretary General Šekerinska on X.

Military mobility

The Nordics are also well underway with joint efforts for the rapid and efficient movement of military forces across borders, according to Häkkänen.

Last autumn, the ministers of defense signed a letter of intent on enhanced cooperation on the development of military transport corridors, and since then, work in this field has progressed.

The agreement entails that the countries develop plans, procedures, and systems for information exchange so that troops, equipment, and supply transport will run smoother.

“We will continue our excellent and efficient cooperation to develop military mobility in the Nordic region. In the current security landscape, it is a matter of great importance to improve military mobility between the Nordic countries,” says the Finnish minister of defense.

“We are off to a good start and will continue our efforts as a matter of urgency,” he adds.

Ammunition and drones

In line with NORDEFCO's vision 2030, the Nordic countries are also working to increase their cooperation on defense materiel and military security of supply.

At the meeting, the defense ministers decided to continue strengthening Nordic industrial capacity in ammunition production.

They also discussed cooperation on unmanned aircraft such as drones. In October, officials in Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark signed an agreement that prepares for the joint procurement of drones and related technology.

This cooperation on materiel demonstrates that the Nordics are taking concrete steps to bolster their joint defense capabilities and preparedness, emphasizes the Norwegian Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik (Labor). In 2026, Norway will take over the leadership of NORDEFCO. 

“We can learn a lot from each other, and we are continuously exploring how we can jointly strengthen our combat power further, both regionally and nationally,” says the Danish Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen (V).

NATO’s Arctic Space Forum

At the same time as the NORDEFCO meeting, Finland also hosted NATO's first Arctic Space Forum in Helsinki, organized by the Alliance's Defense Investment Division.

The overall theme of the forum was the strategic importance of the Arctic region and the importance of investing in the Alliance's space capabilities.

Other key topics for discussion included how closer interaction between the defense sector and the commercial space sector can help reduce supply chain dependencies, increase industrial capacity and ensure access to cutting-edge technologies.

“The Arctic Space Forum gives allies a platform to exchange views on the capability and industrial dimension of space cooperation. An equally important objective is to create opportunities for stakeholders, such as the Finnish space industry, to engage in dialogue with NATO and Allies,” says Olli Ruutu, Director General in the Finnish Ministry of Defense.

The forum featured keynote addresses from Deputy Secretary General Šekerinska and Minister Häkkanen. They also participated in a panel discussion on security in Northern Europe together with the defense ministers of Norway and Denmark as well as the foreign minister of Iceland.

Nordic-Baltic cooperation

The day after the NORDEFCO meeting, the Nordic defense ministers were joined by their counterparts from Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia in Helsinki.

At the top of the agenda for this defense ministers' meeting in the Nordic-Baltic cooperation (NB8) was support for Ukraine.

Specifically, the eight countries jointly launched a $500 million package of military equipment and ammunition through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. This mechanism has been established by the United States in cooperation with NATO.

“Russia’s war of aggression is a long-term threat to European security, the transatlantic community and the rules-based international order. We will not allow it to succeed. Ukraine’s security is directly connected to ours,” the defense ministers say in a joint statement.

The Nordic-Baltic discussion also covered regional security and border protection, NATO's collective defense and presence, as well as the EU's drone initiative.