Nordic Defense Ministers and Chiefs of Defense Gathered to Enhance Joint Combat Power All Nordic defense ministers and chiefs of defense recently met in Helsinki. A key topic was the development of air forces capable of combined operations. “This is important for strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense in the High North,” says Antti Häkkänen, Finnish Minister of Defense.
Northern Nordic Military Leaders Gathered to Bolster Cooperation The commanders of Norway, Finland and Sweden's northern brigades and home guard forces recently met in Troms, Northern Norway, to forge even closer ties. “This cooperation significantly improves our defense capabilities in the North,” says Terje Bruøygard, Commander of the Norwegian Brigade North.
Nordic Council Prizes to Faroese Literature and Film This year's Nordic Council literature prize has been awarded to the Faroese writer Vónbjørt Vang for the poetry collectionSvørt orkidé. The council's film prize was also awarded to a Faroese production for the very first time:Seinasta paradís á jørð.
Iceland and Finland to Strengthen Defense Cooperation On Tuesday, Iceland and Finland signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation. "This agreement underscores Iceland's increased emphasis on regional and bilateral cooperation with neighboring countries and central allies," says the Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs.
NATO’s New Northern Land Command Inaugurated in Finland On Friday, NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command Northwest officially opened in Mikkeli, Finland. "The MCLCC-NW will strengthen NATO’s defense in the High North and increase security in Finland," says the Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen.
NATO’s New Northern Land Command Inaugurated in Finland On Friday, NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command Northwest officially opened in Mikkeli, Finland. "The MCLCC-NW will strengthen NATO’s defense in the High North and increase security in Finland," says the Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen.
The Major Arctic Challenge Exercise 2025 is Cancelled The fighter jet exercise Arctic Challenge was to take place in May-June across Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark, with US participation. The decision to cancel the exercise was made in unity by the Nordic air force chiefs, informs the Norwegian Air Force.
“Our Goal Is to Maintain the Arctic as a Stable Place” Reitan (High North News): Norway and the Nordic region are about to be placed under NATO's Joint Force Command Norfolk in the US. Its establishment in 2019 was a response to a resurgent Russia operating in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. "Events since have only reinforced and validated the decision to establish the command," says the JFC Norfolk commander.
“Norway Must Be the One to Have Control in the Areas Closest to Russia” Kirkenes (High North News): Russia is rattling its sabers along NATO's borders in the North, and the Norwegian prime minister warns against war and opens up for increased allied exercises in the High North. But both Norway's PM and Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen trust Trump to respect Norwegian game rules.
Support of Independent Membership for Greenland and the Faroe Islands in Nordic Cooperation "The current geopolitical situation shows how important it is that we stick together in the Nordic region," says the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, arguing that Greenland and the Faroe Islands should be granted full-fledged participation in official Nordic cooperation.
Norwegian CHOD: New NATO Air Operations Centre Should be Located in Northern Norway Reitan outside Bodø, Northern Norway, is the best suited location for NATO's third Combined Air Operations Centre, believes the Norwegian Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen. He emphasizes i.a. the ability to lead operations from the north. This is revealed in a document that NRK claims to have been given insight into.
Norwegian CHOD: New NATO Air Operations Centre Should be Located in Northern Norway Reitan outside Bodø, Northern Norway, is the best suited location for NATO's third Combined Air Operations Centre, believes the Norwegian Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen. He emphasizes i.a. the ability to lead operations from the north. This is revealed in a document that NRK claims to have been given insight into.
"The Important Thing is that the Allied Air Operations Center is Actually Placed in Norway” Several regional NATO headquarters responsible for military operations are to be established in the Nordic countries. "In Norway, the debate about the regional air headquarter has revolved around its location. We have seen too little of what this entails in a comprehensively Nordic and allied framework," says Professor Håkon Lunde Saxi at the Norwegian Defence Command and Staff College.
MFA Meeting in the North With Serious Backdrop Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): The Norwegian MFA Espen Barth Eide emphasizes the importance of creating a shared understanding of the security policy dynamic in the Arctic among Nordic and Baltic states. He also insists that Norway is working to convey the Norwegian way of thinking about Arctic matters to the US.
Closer Cooperateon on Transport in the Northern Nordic Region Norway, Sweden, and Finland have established Platform North, a cooperation platform to focus on transport and infrastructure in the Northern Nordic region. "This is a tool to help us reach our joint objectives," says Norwegian Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård to HNN.
Closer Cooperation on Transport in the Northern Nordic Region Norway, Sweden, and Finland have established Platform North, a cooperation platform to focus on transport and infrastructure in the Northern Nordic region. "This is a tool to help us reach our joint objectives," says Norwegian Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård to HNN.
Finland Welcomes New EU Commissioner: Focus On Regions Bordering Russia The European Commission Executive Vice-President, Raffaele Fitto, is visiting Finland this week. "We will discuss the situation in Eastern and Northern Finland and ways to boost vitality," says Petteri Orpo, the Finnish Prime Minister.
Nordic Defense Cooperation is Becoming Even More Tangible The Nordic Ministers of Defense will strengthen operational cooperation, enhance military mobility, and initiate drone collaboration. "These measures concretize the Nordic countries' efforts to be able to carry out joint military operations if deterrence fails," says professor.
The Faroe Islands Threatens to Exit Nordic Cooperation: “We Are either All in or Not at All” The Faroe Islands and Greenland will no longer accept exclusion from Nordic summits on foreign and security policy – and demand full-fledged membership of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Now the Nordic Council is calling for a renewal of the Helsinki Treaty.
The Faroe Islands Threatens to Exit Nordic Cooperation: “We Are either All in or Not at All” The Faroe Islands and Greenland will no longer accept exclusion from Nordic summits on foreign and security policy – and demand full-fledged membership of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Now the Nordic Council is calling for a renewal of the Helsinki Treaty.
The Faroe Islands Threatens to Exit Nordic Cooperation: “We Are either All in or Not at All” The Faroe Islands and Greenland will no longer accept exclusion from Nordic summits on foreign and security policy – and demand full-fledged membership of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers. Now the Nordic Council is calling for a renewal of the Helsinki Treaty.
Arctic Chiefs of Defense Meeting in Iceland Recently, the allied Arctic chiefs of defense met in Keflavík to discuss the regional security situation and the opportunities for increased cooperation. The US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also met bilaterally with his counterparts from Norway, Sweden and Iceland.
Nordic Defense Cooperation Strengthened With New Joint Concept The Nordic Chiefs of Defense have signed an agreement on a joint defense concept for the region. This will synchronize the countries' defense plans and facilitate, among other things, more joint military exercises and educational activities, capacity building, and joint operations.
Nordic and US Army Generals Discuss Plans for Nordic Defense Norwegian Army Military Academy, Oslo (High North News): Recently, the four Nordic Army Chiefs and the Commander of the US Army V Corps gathered to discuss the defense of the Cap of the North. "Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and US forces must be able to work together as seamlessly as possible," says Norway's Army Chief.
From Global to Regional: “NATO Has Come Home” Arendal (High North News): Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced a regionalization of the Nordics in NATO. "NATO has come home to the original tasks," says Norwegian MFA Espen Barth Eide (Labor).
Icelandic Author Couple: Literature Allows Us To Explore Everything, Including the End of the World Harstad (High North News): "We Icelanders never prepare for anything," says the author couple Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir and Jón Kalman Stefánsson. They admire the Norwegian practical preparedness thinking but also remind us of the resistance power of traveling literature and maintain that a preparedness storage must also include a book and a ukulele.
VIDEO: Formative Conditions in the North – Outsiderness and Youth Culture Violence Across the Nordic region, more and more young people are moving south. In Sweden, violence and crime are accelerating, which is spreading to Norway. How do we face these challenges? Meet playwright and educator Rebekka Brox Liabø and more for a debate led by Editor Arne O. Holm during the Arctic Arts Festival in Northern Norway.
Norway’s Parliament Agrees to Give the US Access to New Military Areas in the North On Thursday, the Norwegian parliament voted in favor of giving US forces unimpeded access to several additional military areas, not least in the North. Norway should keep up with Sweden and Finland, recommended the Norwegian Intelligence Service – while others express concern for the policy that aims for low tension in the High North.
Norway’s Parliament Agrees to Give the US Access to New Military Areas in the North On Thursday, the Norwegian parliament voted in favor of giving US forces unimpeded access to several additional military areas, not least in the North. Norway should keep up with Sweden and Finland, recommended the Norwegian Intelligence Service – while others express concern for the policy that aims for low tension in the High North.
NATO’s New Northern Flank: Norway’s Army Chief Expects Great Responsibility Tromsø (High North News): The bulk of Sweden and Finland's army forces are located in the south, while most of Norway’s land forces are in the north. "These conditions will likely be important in further developing our cooperation," says the Chief of the Norwegian Army, pointing to new requirements and opportunities.
Norway's MFA on All the Nordics in NATO: "The Significance Hasn't Quite Hit Us Yet" Tromsø (High North News): With the new Nordic security policy community and close defense cooperation follows great opportunities for more interaction between Norway, Finland and Sweden also in other areas of society. "We have to learn how to take advantage of this," says Norwegian MFA Espen Barth Eide.
Pentagon’s Upcoming New Arctic Strategy: "We Talk To Norway, Finland, and Sweden a Lot" Washington D.C. (High North News): The US DoD's new Arctic strategy is right around the corner. It has been developed in close dialogue with allies – not least the Northern Nordics, says Deputy Assistant Secretary Iris Ferguson. She expresses admiration for Norway's 'double strategy' on balancing deterrence and reassurance in the North.
Pentagon’s Upcoming New Arctic Strategy: "We Talk To Norway, Finland, and Sweden a Lot" Washington D.C. (High North News): The US DoD's new Arctic strategy is right around the corner. It has been developed in close dialogue with allies – not least the Northern Nordics, says Deputy Assistant Secretary Iris Ferguson. She expresses admiration for Norway's 'double strategy' on balancing deterrence and reassurance in the North.
Pentagon’s Upcoming New Arctic Strategy: "We Talk To Norway, Finland, and Sweden a Lot" Washington D.C. (High North News): The US DoD's new Arctic strategy is right around the corner. It has been developed in close dialogue with allies – not least the Northern Nordics, says Deputy Assistant Secretary Iris Ferguson. She expresses admiration for Norway's 'double strategy' on balancing deterrence and reassurance in the North.
Nordic Response: Over 20 000 Soldiers From 13 Nations Will Practice Defending NATO's Northern Flank In March, Norwegian, Finnish, and Swedish forces will practice defending allied territory in the High North – reinforced by allies from North America and south of Europe. Major military operations have been planned at sea, on land, and in the air. Russia has been informed about the exercise but has not been invited as an observer.
American Forces Enter the North With Free Access to 36 Military Bases Commentary: American forces are entering the High North at a nearly explosive pace. On Monday, Finland is following Norway and Sweden in opening up their military bases to the US.
Sweden and Finland Have Negotiated Bilateral Defense Agreements With the USA "We also go hand in hand when it comes to bilateral defense cooperation with the US," says Sweden's MoD Pål Jonson. He refers to Finland and Sweden having concluded negotiations with the US on bilateral defense cooperation agreements and are looking forward to a strong American presence in the region.
Icelanders Cheer for Nordic Cooperation Icelanders are most positive about cooperation in the Nordic countries, shows a survey carried out for Iceland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Support for the country's NATO membership and defense cooperation with the USA has decreased somewhat since last year.
The Nordic Region Strengthens Double-Edged Defense Cooperation With the US While Norway's new defense agreement with the US is implemented, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark are negotiating similar agreements with Washington D.C. The agreements are meant to provide quicker and more efficient American support if needed but can also facilitate unpredictable presence.
“Ensures That Norway Has the Same Type of Tanks as Our Nordic Neighbors” Norway will buy 54 tanks of the Leopard 2 type from Germany, announced Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at Rena military camp. "This capacity will be important when we in the future, together with Sweden and Finland, will look at how we are to defend our northern areas."
"Us Northerners Should Joke More About Climate Change" Jón Gnarr, comedian, author, and ex-mayor in Reykjavik, has faith in the Nordic humour. He believes that northerners, who are at the mercy of the natural elements, should poke more fun at the dramatic climate threat, as a way of coping with it.
