Nordic countries get ready to establish cross-border military corridors
“It is of paramount importance that we are able to receive and move allied forces across the Nordic region as rapidly and efficiently as possible,” says Norway’s Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram after signing agreement with Nordic colleagues.
The development of military forces across the Nordic region forges ahead with new measures of integration. Following this week’s meeting in the Nordic defence cooperation (NORDEFCO), the involved countries announced their commitment to establish military corridors for smooth cross-border transportation of troops and equipment.
Joint plans, procedures and systems on information exchange are to be developed, a Letter of Intent states. A joint working group is to prepare the groundwork for cooperation.
“The development of military transport corridors will strengthen NATO’s defence and deterrence. It is important for Norway’s security,” Defence Minister Gram says in a comment.
The countries also intend to strengthen cooperation on their respective future development of infrastructure.
Cross-border mobility has been key element in several recent allied exercises in the region. In April this year, troops and several hundreds pieces of equipment was shipped to Narvik, Norway, and subsequently sent by train across the border to Sweden and then further to Finland, where it was applied in the allied exercise Immediate Response 2024 (IR24).
During the NORDEFCO meeting, the defence ministers also agreed to jointly ramp up Nordic ammunition production and to initiate a Nordic cooperation on unmanned aerial systems.
“Russia’s aggressive behavior and its aggression against Ukraine remains a serious and long-term threat to Nordic, European and Global security. Against this backdrop, the Nordic defence cooperation stands stronger than ever before, the ministers agreed,” a statement reads.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Yukon Arctic defence council calls for more attention to infrastructure in new report, CBC News
Denmark: Denmark’s Arctic, North Atlantic focus: Canada among new defence attaché posts, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: US, Norwegian forces in Lapland for rapid reinforcement exercise, The Independent Barents Observer
Norway: Oslo looks to Brussels for strengthened security and defence, CBC News
Russia:Russia to begin artillery firing near Norway’s Grense Jakobselv, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Updated version of Sweden’s preparedness guide sent out to households, Radio Sweden
United States: White House releases U.S. Arctic strategy implementation plan, Eye on the Arctic
