Defense Minister Gram: Development in the Baltic Sea is becoming more important for Norway
The minister was on Monday in a meeting with his Swedish and Danish colleague in Malmö to discuss closer defense cooperation.
– There we were briefed on the strategic importance of the Øresund area and the Baltic Sea, and the importance of having control in this area in a crisis and war situation. It is clear that when we get a united Nordic region in NATO, developments in the Baltic Sea will become even more important for Norway, says Gram to NTB.
The contact between Norway, Sweden and Denmark has been greatly strengthened as a result of the latest developments in Europe.
– The meeting was an opportunity to show solidarity and support each other and develop cooperation. Among other things, Norway has taken the initiative to develop the military exercise Cold Response, which we arrange every two years, to become Nordic Response. This means that this will largely be a joint, Nordic exercise, says Gram.
Must be able to use each other’s airspace
The Minister of Defense also mentions several other agreements from the meeting:
* The cooperation agreement NORDEFCO (Nordic Defense Cooperation) must be reviewed and adapted to a new era with a united Nordic region. Iceland and Finland are also involved in this collaboration.
* The trilateral agreement on operational cooperation that was concluded between Norway, Sweden and Denmark last year is to be updated so that it passes into a joint NATO planning framework when Sweden becomes a full member of the organisation.
The new agreements also open up the possibility of using each other’s military infrastructure and airspace, with the aim of gaining better control over the region, Denmark’s Minister of Defense Morten Bødskov tells the Ritzau news agency.
– I am in charge of dealing with threats
Russian naval and aircraft are behaving increasingly aggressively in the Baltic Sea, and both the NATO countries Denmark and Sweden, which will become members of NATO, are constantly experiencing Russian violations.
– This is completely unacceptable behavior from the Russian side, and this has been clearly expressed, says Gram.
– How is the dialogue with Russia from the Norwegian side?
– Since the invasion, there has been minimal communication. It is mainly the fishermen’s cooperation and preparedness and rescue services in the north where the lines of communication are open. But on the whole, the dialogue has been scaled down considerably, he says.
– How worried are you about the development?
– We have introduced a major change in rhetoric and various forms of threats and hybrid threats. We are of course very concerned about the development, but we also need to show that we are following and are able to deal with threats that arise, emphasizes Gram.
Do not wish to comment on further aid to Ukraine
In a few weeks, the countries will meet again in Finland, before new talks take place in Sweden. On Thursday this week, some of the parties will meet again in connection with the international donor conference for Ukraine in Copenhagen. Gram is participating on behalf of Norway.
– What will be Norway’s contribution there? Are we going to provide additional military aid to Ukraine?
– We have said all along that we are considering new donations and support for Ukraine, but it has been our practice not to comment on this during the process. I have nothing new to add before the conference, but it is absolutely crucial that Ukraine has further support in its fight and Norway must of course contribute with that.