Kirkenes (Netavisen): On Wednesday March 1, an intensive defense meeting was held at the Kirkenes Conference in Finnmark. Norway’s Defense Minister Erik Kristoffersen, Sweden’s Defense Chief Mikael Pedin, and Finland’s Deputy Chief of Defense met to talk about a new Nordic joint defense after Sweden and Finland became part of NATO.

There was no doubt among all the generals that this was something they were very much looking forward to.

– First of all, this means that the three countries will fall under the guarantee of their defense Article 5 in the NATO Treaty. This is the main point. We will also be part of proper operational planning in the coalition as a new member state, and these are two things that will make a huge difference for Sweden and Finland, Sweden’s Defense Minister, Mikael Pedin, told Nettavisen.

It will completely change our way of thinking. We are used to thinking Finland has to defend itself, Finnish Deputy Chief of Defense Veisa Virtanen intervenes.

Kristofferson also looks forward to bringing Sweden and Finland into NATO, and he nodded in agreement with his Nordic colleagues,

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Surprised

Despite the fact that Russia has a lot to think about when two new neighboring countries become part of NATO, there is one thing that makes the Finnish Minister of Defense scratch his head.

– For us, it was surprising that the Russians reacted so little to our accession to NATO. Perhaps they have already realized that Finland and Sweden will one day become members of NATO. There was also a large majority of people in favor of membership, and we didn’t get any particular feedback from Russia there either, Virtanen notes.

However, the Finnish Deputy Minister of Defense adds that they are well prepared for the upcoming reactions.

– Of course, we follow the bases and forces that they deploy on our eastern side. It remains to be seen that the Russians are out of Ukraine, is Virtanen’s message.

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Big changes

The Norwegian Minister of Defense explains more about how the military strategies of Norway and the Nordic countries will change in the future.

– Things will change radically, because we have always considered Norway “alone in the north of NATO.” Soon we’ll be in the north with Sweden and Finland, and that means we’re adding two very powerful military neighbors to our alliance, says Kristoffersen to Nettavisen.

He adds:

– This means that we can have integrated plans for our defense going forward, as the Scandinavian Peninsula will work with three countries that share the same culture and the same situation.