No New Structure for Northern Nordic Cooperation in Sight? Rovaniemi, Finland (High North News): At the end of the year, Finland will withdraw from the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, and the search for a new cooperation framework has so far not yielded any tangible results. “I really hope that we find a common path forward,” says Hanna Honkamäkilä in the Council of Oulu Region.
Norway Plans to Establish State Preparedness Hub Near the Border With Russia: "An Important Measure" The Norwegian government wants to strengthen preparedness and state presence in Eastern Finnmark, Northern Norway, with a new hub. This will boost Norway's ability to manage crises in the High North, believes Professor Natalia Andreassen.
Norway, Finland, and Sweden: Discussing New Cooperation Structure in the High North Tromsø (High North News): State secretaries of Norway, Finland, and Sweden have been mandated to start designing a new framework for northern Nordic cooperation. "We have a shared interest in finding a joint answer to this," says the Norwegian Foreign Minister.
Northern Norway Is Likely Facing a More Serious Hybrid Threat Situation, Says Professor Tromsø (High North News): "I believe that the situation in the North will gradually worsen before the hybrid threat level stabilizes," says Professor Tormod Heier at the Norwegian Defense University College. He calls for bolder moves to strengthen civil-military cooperation in the face of the hybrid threats.
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.
New Vision for Nordic Defense Cooperation: Eight Areas for Vigorous Joint Action A united Nordic region in NATO now join forces to lift the Nordic defense cooperation into a new era. "Russia will remain a threat against European and global security for the foreseeable future," believes the Nordic allies, wanting to engage in operational military interaction.
Nordic Response Exercise Logistics Impacted as Ofoten Railway Line Remains Closed "The Ofoten Line is important to the Norwegian Armed Forces. Its significance will increase with Sweden and Finland as NATO members," says Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen to High North News.
Finnmark Police Chief: “Without A Strong, Civilian Footprint There Is Nothing for Us to Protect” Too poor civilian preparedness in Finnmark may lead to a weakening of the capacity to manage a crisis. “We must avoid that”, says Finnmark Police Chief Ellen Katrine Hætta.
