Finnish FM says Nordic defense cooperation has not changed

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said Friday that an announcement signed by five Nordic defense ministers did not bring any new policy lines.

Talking to media in Helsinki, Tuomioja said the announcement was in line with the policies Finland has pursued so far. He added that practical Nordic defense cooperation benefits European defense and also that of the Baltic countries.

In the letter published by Norway's largest daily Aftenposten, the defense ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden pointed an accusing finger at Russia, claiming that increased Russian threat has impaired the security policy situation in areas close to the Nordic countries during the last year.

They said that although the area is still stable, the countries must prepare for crises. The ministers wrote that the Nordic countries plan to increase joint exercises, cooperation in defense material, share intelligence and prepare to counter cyber threats.

Finnish Defense Minister Carl Haglund later said the signed letter does not mean a step towards joining NATO. He also denied any connection with the Finnish parliamentary election campaign.

Tuomioja said he did not expect Russia will react to this statement. He made the comment during a joint press conference with visiting Estonian Foreign Minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus.

Pentus-Rosimannus said she did not encourage excessive guesswork about Russian reactions.

Special researcher Tommi Koivula at the National Finnish Defense University said to national radio Yle that the clear reference of Russia was a new phenomenon.

"Earlier Nordic co-operation in defense has been justified through references to cost savings and through attaining a better ability to work together," Koivula noted. "The reference to Russia was now more outspoken than usual," Koivula said. Endi