Norway Assumes Leadership of NORDEFCO
The defense ministers from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden gathered for the NORDEFCO meeting in Helsinki. On January 1st, 2026, Norway took over the leadership of the NORDEFCO cooperation structure from Finland. (Photo: Asgeir Spange Brekke / Ministry of Defense)
On January 1st, Norway assumed leadership of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) after Finland. War in Europe and heightened uncertainty have increased the significance of cooperation. "Europe can not take security for granted," says Norway's Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik.
Norway assumed leadership of the cooperation structure NORDEFCO on January 1st, 2026.
NORDEFCO (The Nordic Defence Cooperation) consists of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden and was established in 2009 due to a desire and need for a closer defense cooperation between neighboring countries that share history, culture, politics, security interests, and country borders.
Today, all member countries are also NATO allies.
The past year's heightened threat landscape in Europe has made the cooperation particularly relevant. In November, the Nordic defense ministers met for one of two annual meetings within the cooperation structure. For the first time, the region's chiefs of defense also participated in order to support strategic and military planning in the High North.
The NORDEFCO leadership rotates among its members countries annually and Norway took over the baton from Finland.
"Europe cannot take security for granted. We must do more for our security and close cooperation with our allies is crucial. During Norway's leadership, we will further develop a cooperation that makes the entire Nordic region safer," says Norwegian Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik.
“It’s about security for you and me,” says Norwegian Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik in regards to the Nordic cooperation. (Photo: Martin Mellquist/the Norwegian Armed Forces)
"We will work toward the Nordic region becoming the most integrated region within defense in Europe. This will make us stronger, both as individual nations and as a region," continues the defense minister.
According to the press release, Norway will use its leadership to focus on how the countries train, exercise, and develop defense and security policy to ensure joint defense, as well as receiving and moving allied reinforcements across the Nordic area as NATO allies.
This would not be possible without the support of Total Defense, reads the press release. In 2026, Norway marks the Total Defense Year – a year in which the whole of Norway mobilizes to strengthen its ability to prevent and manage security policy crises and war, according to the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection. This will also be marked within NORDEFCO.
The defense minister underscores that the Nordic cooperation and the allied presence in the region are about something fundamental.
"It is about security for you and me. Through the Nordic defense cooperation, we are better equipped to face the future's security challenges," concludes Sandvik.
