2023
Common Statement by the Ministers of Defence of NORDEFCO
The Nordic Ministers of Defence had a meeting in Reykjavik on 20 to 21 June 2023. Director General, MoD, Janne Kuusela represented the Defence Minister of Finland. The ministers issued the following statement:
Common statement; NORDEFCO Ministerial in Iceland 20-21 June 2023
Today, the Nordic ministers of Defence and representatives met in Reykjavik to discuss the unstable security situation and the consequences of Russia’s full-scale and brutal attack on Ukraine. The Ministers also discussed the future of Nordic defence cooperation and NATO-related issues.
Over sixteen months have passed since Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine, and our support to Ukraine is stronger than ever. Since February 2022, the Nordic countries have supported Ukraine with military equipment, training, humanitarian, and financial support – and will continue to do so for as long as it takes. Ukraine is fighting not only for their own country but for the principles we stand for, international law and the rules-based order.
In light of the deteriorated security situation in our neighbourhood, Nordic defence cooperation is ever more important. When all the Nordic countries are members of NATO, Nordic defence cooperation can be fully harnessed for the good of the Alliance. It is therefore imperative that Sweden joins the Alliance as soon as possible.
During 2023, the Nordic countries are working on updating the Vision that guides our cooperation, to reflect the new strategic reality with war in Europe and all Nordic countries becoming members of NATO.
Vision 2030 lays out an ambitious plan for the cooperation in the years to come, and will guide our work to strengthen the deterrence and defence of the Nordic region and the Euro-Atlantic Area.
In line with the upcoming Vision, a Nordic Defence Concept is being drafted on the military level, to guide the closer military cooperation. NORDEFCO complements and contributes to European and transatlantic security, and collective defence.