# Nordic defence chiefs call for seamless military border crossings

- Source: Nordic Defence Sector (https://nordicdefencesector.com)
- Canonical URL: https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings
- Published: 2026-09-28
- Author: Daniel Trangeled
- Type: News · Country: international
- Language: en (original)
- Also available in: de (https://nordicdefencesector.com/de/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md), dk (https://nordicdefencesector.com/dk/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md), es (https://nordicdefencesector.com/es/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md), fi (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fi/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md), fr (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fr/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md), it (https://nordicdefencesector.com/it/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md), no (https://nordicdefencesector.com/no/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md), pl (https://nordicdefencesector.com/pl/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md), sv (https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/nordic-defence-chiefs-call-for-seamless-military-border-crossings.md)
- Primary source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRvMa5A3-Is
- Tags: sverige, danmark, norge, finland, island, chiefs of defence, försvarsmakten, norwegian armed forces, finnish armed forces, danish armed forces, icelandic defence, joint force command norfolk, nato, halkavarre, greenland, ryssland, swedish armed forces, russia

> Nordic defence chiefs discussed deepening military cooperation on a Forpod podcast, calling for seamless cross-border troop movements and highlighting progress like the joint NATO command structure established in December 2025. They also warned of Russia's growing military buildup near Finland and the importance of societal resilience against hybrid threats.

![The Nordic Chiefs of Defence speak with one another on a joint podcast by Forsvaret](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/b919d975-dff9-466a-f7d1-597952fa5900/public)
*The Nordic Chiefs of Defence speak with one another on a joint podcast by Forsvaret · Forsvaret*

**The five Nordic chiefs of defence [spoke together](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRvMa5A3-Is) in an episode of the Forsvarspodden podcast, hosted by the Norwegian Defence. A [unique episode](https://x.com/swe_chod/status/2103596912238883260) of the podcast, according to Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces Michael Claesson, they outlined their priorities for continued Nordic defence cooperation.**

"Seamless border crossing," said General Michael Claesson, Sweden's Chief of Defence, when asked what he would improve. "Now it's not seamless." He said the obstacles were legislation and "inert and stiff regulations."

Norway's Chief of Defence, General Eirik Kristoffersen, agreed. He said a Finnish company should be able to train at Norway's Halkavarre range "without a lot of bureaucratic hinders."

In 2022, the chiefs advised their governments to integrate their forces rather than specialise. They also advised placing all five countries in the same joint operations area. According to the chiefs, that happened in December 2025, when Denmark, Finland and Sweden [came under](nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/finland-sweden-and-denmark-transferred-to-jfc-norfolk) Joint Force Command Norfolk, as previously reported by NDS.

Finland's Chief of Defence, General Janne Jaakkola, said NATO gives Finland "the depth of the defence and also those capabilities which we never could procure ourselves." He said Russia plans to roughly triple its forces near Finland's border, to 80,000–100,000 troops. "The Russians are adapting and scaling," he said.

Kristoffersen said Russian hybrid activity aims to weaken public support for Ukraine. "It's not a military answer to all of that. It's how we as a society react to it."

Claesson warned against Nordic complacency. "Cohesion is a centre of gravity," he said.

Iceland has no standing armed forces. Jónas G. Allansson, Iceland's Director General of Defence, said NATO membership is "crucial." He called it one of the two pillars of Iceland's security. The other is its bilateral defence agreement with the US.

Denmark's Chief of Defence, General Michael Hyldgaard, said using Iceland as a base for operations around Greenland "is crucial." He said he gets his motivation from the view of Copenhagen outside his office window. "I see people go around there with no worries. I want to keep it that way."

## FAQ

**What did Sweden's Chief of Defence say needs to improve at Nordic borders?**

General Michael Claesson said border crossings between Nordic countries are not yet seamless, citing legislation and what he called inert and stiff regulations as obstacles. He identified this as his top priority for improving continued Nordic defence cooperation, reflecting a shared concern among the five chiefs of defence. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-28.

**Why did Norway's Chief of Defence mention the Halkavarre range?**

General Eirik Kristoffersen used the Halkavarre range example to illustrate bureaucratic barriers to Nordic cooperation, saying a Finnish company should be able to train there without significant hinders. His comment echoed Claesson's call for seamless border crossing, showing both Norway and Sweden view regulatory obstacles as a shared operational challenge. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-28.

**How much is Russia expected to increase its forces near Finland's border?**

General Janne Jaakkola said Russia plans to roughly triple its forces near Finland's border, increasing troop numbers to between 80,000 and 100,000. He described this as evidence that the Russians are adapting and scaling their military posture, underscoring Finland's reliance on NATO for defence depth and capabilities. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-28.

**Which command structure took effect for Denmark, Finland and Sweden in December 2025?**

According to the article, Denmark, Finland and Sweden came under Joint Force Command Norfolk in December 2025. This fulfilled a 2022 recommendation by the Nordic chiefs of defence to place all five countries within the same joint operations area, following their advice to integrate forces rather than specialise. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-28.

**What are the two pillars of Iceland's security according to Jónas G. Allansson?**

Jónas G. Allansson said NATO membership is crucial and represents one of Iceland's two pillars of security. The other pillar is Iceland's bilateral defence agreement with the United States, which matters given that Iceland has no standing armed forces of its own. Last fact-checked: 2026-09-28.

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