[…] ”Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO fundamentally changes how we, from a military perspective, think about how Norway and NATO are to be defended in the north,” said Kristoffersen during the conference.
”Together, we must rethink areas such as logistics, total defense, and how we dispose of our forces. The Scandinavian peninsula is only geographically connected to Europe through Russia. One strategic direction is the High North, another is the Baltic Sea. We must think in both directions about how we can make credible plans to deter anyone from doing something to us – and how we can respond effectively, should we need to,” he added. […]
Sweden is also looking more and more towards the High North, despite the country’s strategic and military focus largely being directed toward the Baltic Sea. Chief of Defense Bydèn referred to the High North as a very important region and an area of high interest, not only to the Nordic countries but to other actors outside of NATO, such as China, for example.
”We must be able to operate here and have the necessary capacities,” he specified.
When asked what Sweden can contribute to the alliance, Bydèn pointed out that Sweden has a solid defense industry, as well as a well-equipped and trained defense that knows the region. […]
Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen believes the Nordic region should be the most integrated region in just a few years. As High North News has previously reported, the four Nordic countries’ chiefs of defense were to deliver a joint professional military plan to their respective governments on how the countries can coordinate their defenses. This plan has now been presented and the four chiefs of defense from Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden have signed them. […]
”We have also recommended that we become part of the same command and control function in NATO, to keep us together as a unit. That will allow us to take a bigger responsibility for the region over time,” Bydèn adds and concludes:
”Sweden also looks at host country support; becoming an ally is not just about sending an invitation. There is a lot that must be done. We must be able to receive reinforcements to major ports and airbases. And we must ensure that everything is in place for the reinforcements to be operational immediately.” Läs artikel