The three Nordic countries, now all members of NATO, have sealed a new military agreement to install crossing routes in the very strategic Arctic zone.
The agreement is signed between Norway, Finland and Sweden. The three Nordic countries have concluded a new military agreement, announced on Thursday June 20 by the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, reports Le Monde, establishing the creation of a military corridor crossing the north of the three countries, in the Arctic. This agreement constitutes “an important step” for the three Nordic countries, now members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said Mr. Store.
End of non-alignment. Finland and Sweden have ended a decades-long tradition of military non-alignment, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 being the trigger. Helsinki joined the Atlantic Alliance in April 2023 and were followed by the Swedes the following month.
At the end of a meeting with the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, and the Finnish President, Alexander Stubb, the head of the Norwegian government explained the interest of this new agreement: “This will allow personnel and equipment to be be quickly transported from Norwegian ports to Finland via Sweden. »
Reinforcement. In March, NATO organized the “Nordic Response Exercise” in the region. This military program, integrated into Operation “Steadfast”, was the Alliance’s most important exercise since the end of the Cold War (1989). For his part, Vladimir Putin has strengthened the capabilities of the Russian army in the Arctic, which is home to its powerful Northern Fleet.
