NATO joining not to reduce importance of Nordic co-op: PM

Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Monday said the accession of Finland and Sweden to North Atlantic Treaty Organization- NATO will not reduce the importance of Nordic cooperation.

“The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO does not reduce the importance of Nordic cooperation; on the contrary, it gives us the opportunity to set our goals even higher. Together we will strengthen security and stability across NATO,” Marin said at the meeting of the Nordic Prime Ministers in Oslo.

The prime ministers of the Nordic countries confirmed that they would further develop their cooperation on defence and security, said a government press release.

As Finland and Sweden become members of NATO, the Nordic countries will become allied partners, which opens up new opportunities for cooperation.

The new security situation in Northern Europe also featured prominently in the Nordic prime minsters’ discussion with German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In Oslo, the Nordic prime ministers adopted a joint declaration on developing security and defence cooperation.

It states that Russia’s war of aggression has changed the security situation in the whole of Europe and that the Nordic countries have a responsibility to protect freedom and common values.

The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO will make the Nordic countries allies, opening up new opportunities for cooperation.

The Nordic countries will further develop their cooperation by participating actively in strengthening NATO as a military and political actor, conducting Nordic exercises and training in close cooperation with NATO and its member countries, seeking synergies and strengthening the resilience of their societies.

A second important item on the agenda at the prime ministers’ meeting was protecting the seas and promoting the use of renewable energy. The prime ministers signed a separate declaration on this topic.

In connection with their meeting in Oslo, the Nordic prime ministers held a separate meeting with Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz.

Topics on the agenda for the discussion included European security and Russia, the new security architecture for Northern Europe, and the green transition and energy security in Europe.

Before the Prime Ministers’ meeting, Marin met for a bilateral discussion with the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre.