Finland, Sweden, Norway boost trilateral defence tie

Defence Ministers of Finland, Sweden and Norway on Tuesday signed the Statement of Intent (SoI) in Oslo with the view to strengthen trilateral defence cooperation among the three Nordic countries.

Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen and his Norwagian and Swedish counterparts Bjørn Arild Gram and Pål Jonson signed the statement for their respective countries, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release.

In light of the changed security situation, cooperation and unity among likeminded nations is accentuated. For this reason Finland, Norway and Sweden are enhancing and improving the trilateral defence cooperation.

The common goal of the renewed SoI is to enhance and strengthen operations planning among Finland, Norway and Sweden in areas of common concern, especially in the northern parts of Finland, Norway and Sweden as well as improve interoperability among the armed forces.

The trilateral defence cooperation supports the objectives of broader Nordic defence cooperation (NORDEFCO).

It also complements the other Nordic trilateral cooperation between Denmark, Norway and Sweden as well as bilateral defence cooperation between the participants.

The SoI does not involve an obligation to take military action; to take such action would always require separate national political decisions. The Statement of Intent is not a legally binding document.