Nordic foreign ministers discuss security policy matters once again

Ministers emphasise cooperation at Oslo meeting - no decisions made

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Security policy is becoming an increasingly important topic at meetings of foreign ministers of the Nordic Countries.
      The rising importance of the Arctic areas and the increasingly free atmosphere in debate on political and military matters have led to unprecedentedly lively discussion on Nordic security policy.
      "If we look back a few years, it would not have been possible to produce a common defence report for Sweden and Norway. If you took part in a meeting of Nordic foreign ministers 15 years ago, the most northern regions would have been sidestepped as an area dominated by cold weather, fishing, and a possible strategic clash", said Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on Wednesday.
      "Today we see that the picture has changed from one of military threat to a broader selection of risk management. Most of the risks are common to all of us, and we share many of them with Russia", Gahr Støre said.
     
The foreign ministers of the Nordic Countries met in the Norwegian capital on Wednesday in connection with the ongoing session of the Nordic Council. No special decisions were made, but the ministers emphasised their enthusiasm for cooperation.
     
Security policy cooperation of the five Nordic Countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden - is divided into several dimensions. Denmark and Norway have agreed with Iceland on measures to secure Iceland's territory after the United States closed its base there.
      Meanwhile, Finland, Sweden, and Norway have increasingly worked together to keep their defence budgets under control through bulk purchases of military equipment.
      Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt emphasised that significant benefits can be achieved through cross-border rationalisation.
      Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva (Nat. Coalition Party) feels that economic factors change the security environment.
      "Finland also has economic interests concerning the northern region. We have things to offer in logistics and in the production of services", Kanerva said.
     
In Norway, the changing situation is viewed from the point of view of climate change.
      "Melting ice raises visions that it will be possible to sail to the North Pole in a few decades. This is also a new energy zone for Europe", Jonas Gahr Støre says.
      "I believe that the five of us are in one way or another involved in all questions of the northern areas. Iceland has a new strategic significance for transport, Norway is a country with coastline on the Barents Sea, where there is transport and drilling for oil and gas."
      "Norway and Denmark are neighbours of the North Pole, and we are working together to develop the rules. Finland, Sweden, and Norway are all neighbours, and Norway and Finland are neighbours of Russia", the Norwegian Foreign Minister pointed out.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Estonian PM concerned about prospect of Putin staying in power in Russia (30.10.2007)

Links:
  Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers website

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