Finland and Sweden NATO Membership Application-Norway News-Latest News, Latest News, Comments-Norway News

Today, the Defense Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), consisting of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, met in Oslo.

Defense Minister JEF discusses current security challenges, including the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea, where JEF is a core region. Defense Minister JEF also participated in tabletop exercises to put into practice JEF’s role in responding to a growing crisis, including the relationship between JEF and NATO in such scenarios.

All JEF Defense Ministers strongly welcome Finland and Sweden’s NATO applications. Countries have made sovereign decisions to join NATO after a clear and open democratic process. They share the values ​​of the Alliance and are modern and highly capable defense and security partners, working together to enhance collective security across the Atlantic.

Allied JEF partners stand side by side with Finland and Sweden in a spirit of solidarity through NATO accession. We will work closely with NATO allies to integrate both Finland and Sweden into the alliance as soon as possible. JEF shall engage in multi-domain activities throughout the core region to provide a higher level of assurance as Finnish and Swedish friends complete the process of joining NATO. This is in addition to a series of integrated activities and exercises in Northern Europe agreed by Defense Minister JEF at a conference held at Belboa Castle on February 21-22, 2022.

We work together to strengthen the security and stability of Scandinavia and reaffirm JEF’s common objectives and determination to be ready to respond to a wide range of contingencies in both peacetime and crisis and conflict. confirm. All in a way that is consistent and complementary to NATO’s role.