NEWS Nordic defence ministers meeting on the island of Bornholm, Denmark, are planning to extend their co-operation within defence to also include Denmark. But each country will decide on the co-operational projects it wants to participate in, Sweden’s...
The article highlights the fact that the countries share geography and challenges in each of their immediate surroundings.
The ministers write: “We have similar security-policy targets and information. Even though our countries are members of different organisations, there is still a lot we can do together. We all actively contribute to the UN, EU and Nato.
“As a consequence of developments in international politics, the situation in our region has changed considerably over the past 20 years. Today, we face broader and more complex security challenges than before.”
The ministers describe how the situation has changed in and around the Baltic. “The Baltic Sea is today is bordered by EU and Nato countries, with 50,000 shipping vessels per year and double the amount of oil shipments. The Arctic-Barents region is going through major changes. Climate change is leading to new traffic routes and making new natural resources accessible. Many countries have major interests in the area.
“Overall, this means that the strategic role for our region has changed. Greater co-operation is therefore needed within the Nordic region and with other Baltic countries to handle the future challenges.”
