Finnish Government,
Nordic foreign ministers gathered in Oslo on Monday to discuss an independent report on Nordic cooperation in the field of foreign and security policy. The report, created by a group of independent experts and compiled by Norwegian Foreign Minister Thorvald Stoltenberg, outlines the creation of a pan-Nordic stabilisation force.
The stabilisation force could be dispatched to countries facing internal unrest, states the report. The mission of the Nordic force would be to stabilise the situation in countries embroiled in internal strife. The Nordic force would include military and civilian personnel as well as development work professionals and state-building experts.
Icelandic Airspace under Nordic Surveillance?
The report also suggests a pan-Nordic monitoring of Icelandic airspace. The recommendation follows the recent withdrawal of US troops from Keflavik after their 55-year military presence on the island nation.
Other report recommendations include the development of a Nordic maritime surveillance and rescue operation as well as a Nordic outfit to shield against attack on Nordic information networks.
Finland’s Korkeaoja Sceptical
Juha Korkeaoja, chair of Parliament’s Defence Committee, says many of the proposed recommendations pose difficulties for Finland.
Korkeaoja says he is sceptical that the Nordics will manage to pull together the resources required for a pan-Nordic force. He points out that Finland is already a member of the EU’s military rapid reaction forces, which are deployed at short notice to conflicts around the world. Korkeaoja is particularly concerned about the notion to monitor Icelandic airspace:
”Given Iceland's far geographical distance, taking on such airspace responsibility is not a simple act. Iceland is moreover a NATO country,” says Korkeaoja.
Korkeaoja underscores that the report is a collection of ideas – not a basis for decision-making.
The report, which was produced by a group of Nordic experts, investigated how Nordic cooperation on foreign and security policy could be developed in the next 10 to 15 years. The report’s recommendations will be formally discussed at the ordinary meeting of the Nordic foreign ministers in Reykjavik in April.
