Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces
General Timo Kivinen
Blog Entry

The Nordic countries share a common background and security challenges. We are connected by history, culture and development of our states: they shape Nordic identity and increase trust between our countries. Because of similarities between the Nordic countries, the threats, risks and vulnerabilities are similar in all of them. In addition to military threats, our societies also prepare for threats endangering critical infrastructure, and the health and safety of their citizens.

Nordic defence cooperation is done under the NORDEFCO organisation’s umbrella. The fact that not all of the Nordic countries are members of NATO or the EU, naturally has an effect on the cooperation. It is often thought that this makes opportunities for cooperation narrower. I have always thought that different viewpoints and emphasis on issues complement each other, and this makes the overall influence of the Nordics larger than their size would lead you to believe.

Participating in cooperation is always a national decision and Nordic defence cooperation does not require that all countries participate in individual projects. Some of the cooperation in bilateral.

This year is significant for Finland, as we are the NORDEFCO chair. This year, Finland is also the chairman for the Haga cooperation for civilian authorities.

I and my Nordic colleagues meet regularly. In our meetings we discuss the situation of our security environment, our military activities and our cooperation projects. The last such video teleconference meeting was a few days ago.
The tightening security situation in Europe and in our neighbouring areas has expanded Nordic cooperation in the last few years. The military-strategic importance of the Baltic Sea, the Northern Atlantic, and the High North in general has resurfaced. The developments and military activities in these three areas have an effect on the security of all Nordic countries.

Despite a shared security environment, every one of the Nordic countries has special characteristics that are influenced by their geo-strategic position, and these also affect the cooperation. Iceland is located at an important junction between Greenland and the UK in regards to command of the sea. Denmark is the sentry of the Baltic, and it has its responsibilities in Greenland and in the Arctic. Norway and Sweden are back-to-back, both watching one direction: Norway monitoring the Northern maritime areas, whereas Sweden is more directed to the Baltic Sea. Finland, for its part, is looking east, at the external borders of the European Union. Russia has areas that are strategically important to it, located close to all Nordic countries.

NORDEFCO cooperation strengthens our countries’ capability to work together during peacetime, crisis and conflict, in accordance with a common vision. The practical focus areas in cooperation are situation picture cooperation, advancing military mobility and active cooperation in training and exercises. Mapping out potential synergies in developing national capabilities and in crisis management operations is also important.
In terms of exercise cooperation, I want to highlight Air Force Cross Border Training, which is an everyday occurrence between our countries. Regular exercise activities increase our countries abilities to monitor our territorial integrity and cooperation during a crisis.

Sweden is Finland’s closest bilateral partner. Both countries have the political will to deepen the cooperation. It is our responsibility as soldiers to create the practical requisites for operating together in all circumstances. Military cooperation during crises requires, for example, advance planning, sharing situation picture, combined use of logistics and infrastructure, and cooperation to reinforce the surveillance and safeguarding of territorial integrity. The methods and depth of cooperation are always separate national decisions in crisis situations.

The cooperation between Finland, Sweden and Norway is also deepening. The countries’ Ministers of Defence signed a Letter of Intent on the issue in September 2020. If one looks at the map, it is not difficult to identify a need for deeper cooperation. The goal is to develop the capabilities for carrying out combined military activities. In such cases, the issue is not requesting and providing assistance, but rather cooperation that benefits all parties. Possible cooperation during a crisis always requires separate national and political decisions.

Cooperating in different combinations strengthens the security of all Nordic countries. The central point is increasing the security and stability in our neighbouring areas in Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea and in the Arctic area. If the situation, despite various actions, becomes a crisis, the political decision-makers will have tools for deeper cooperation available, also during emergency conditions.

Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces
General Timo Kivinen