After a press conference in Helsinki on Wednesday, Finland’s Defense Minister Andi Kaikonen spoke about the Finnish government’s offer. Its new security policy statementHigh-level NATO analysis.
He says the Finnish government is in talks with Great Britain about new bilateral cooperation.
– Andi Kaikonen says we have started discussing with Great Britain what cooperation will look like in practice. Swedish Yle.
He expects to be able to say more details about the collaboration in the spring or early summer.
Sweden and Finland have already participated In the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) with the Nordic and Baltic countries, Great Britain and the Netherlands.
British offer to the Nordics
SVT Nyheter reported on Tuesday Great Britain provides a large military presence to Sweden and other Nordic countriesAmong others, naval combat forces and reconnaissance aircraft.
The British Navy’s battle forces may consist of anything called an aircraft carrier group consisting of fighter aircraft from the Navy.
– The northern areas are strategically very important. British Ambassador Judith Gough said in an interview with SVT that we want to keep this region characterized by low tension and close cooperation.
British Defense Minister Ben Wallace proposed a naval battle group, one that would rotate between Sweden, Norway and Finland. The UK’s new strategy for the High North Arctic regionThis includes the Nordic countries.
Finland’s Defense Minister Kaikkonen says he is not aware of any such plans.
The expanded defense cooperation that Finland is discussing with Great Britain, apart from the current JEF cooperation, is clearly bilateral in nature, according to Kaikkonen.
Hultqvist (S) refuses
SVT Nyheter asked Sweden’s Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist (S) for his opinion on the British provision of a greater military presence in the Nordic region. However, his press secretary declares that Hultqvist does not have time to comment on the matter.
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