USA: Sweden 'Very Important' to Nordic Defense | World

Last week, Nordic Army commanders and a senior U.S. military officer met in Oslo to strengthen military cooperation within NATO.

The meeting was attended by Major General Lars Lervik from Norway, Major General Johnny Lindfors from Sweden, Lieutenant General Pasi Valimäki from Finland, Major General Peter Boysen from Denmark, and Lieutenant General Charles Costanza from the United States of America.

“We have Sweden and Finland in the alliance now. That means two strategic partners who are very important for the defence of the Nordic and Baltic countries,” Costanza says.

“It will prevent Russia from attacking.”

The US team says they had “a lot of good discussions about how we can best interact to defend our freedom.” The key point here is to deter Putin from attacking the Nordic countries.

– The goal should be to show that we have the will and the ability to make the opponent not only think twice, but actually refrain from attacking. Together with Finland and Sweden, I think the possibility of an attack on our countries is less likely, says Lervik.

Costanza believes that cooperation with NATO will be “sufficient deterrent to ensure peace in the Nordic countries and the Baltic region.”

“Yes, I think it will deter Russia from attacking,” Costanza says. “Through this cooperation, we are showing Russia that we can provide military resistance that is a deterrent.”

He also believes that Sweden and Finland can be decisive in terms of the security of the Baltic states.

“They give us a route for supplies and troop movements,” Costanza says.