"We want to be Europe's most integrated region in terms of defence"

"We will work to make the Nordic region the most integrated region in Europe in terms of defence," said Tore O. Sandvik ahead of Norway's takeover of leadership of the military cooperation structure. 

"This will make us strong both as individual nations and as a region," he emphasised.

NORDEFCO was established in 2009 to bolster members' national defence and facilitate cross-border defence cooperation. 

The chair of the structure rotates between the five participating countries.

NORDEFCO remains relevant also after the inclusion of Finland and Sweden in NATO, the members argue. 

Norway takes over the chair of the structure as the security situation in the Nordic region is increasingly challenged by Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine and the growing hostility towards neighbours in the Baltic and Barents regions.

"Europe cannot take security for granted. We must do more to ensure our security, and close cooperation with our allies is absolutely essential. Now that Norway is to lead NORDEFCO, we will further develop cooperation that will make the whole of the Nordic region safer," said Sandvik.

Training, policy coordination and total defence remain key priorities.

"In 2026, we will focus on how we train, practise and develop defence and security policies that ensure we can defend each other and receive and move allied reinforcements across the Nordic region as allies in NATO," the minister added.

The NORDEFCO structure includes cooperation at both political and military levels. All the Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are members.