Sweden and Finland are deepening their defence cooperation through joint territorial surveillance and protection of Finland's territorial integrity. The cooperation is intended to strengthen Finland's ability to detect and counter drones.
The Swedish Armed Forces state that the operation is beginning and will continue throughout the autumn. Swedish units can, if required, be placed under Finnish command to detect and repel threats to Finland's sovereignty. The support may include JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, Visby-class corvettes, and radar and air defence systems.
"The Swedish-Finnish cooperation is extensive, and we are now deepening it further. Finland's cause is our cause, not only in words but also in action," says Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, Chief of the Swedish Armed Forces' Operations Command.
"The Nordic region forms a cohesive whole. We trust each other, and together we are stronger," writes Finland's President Alexander Stubb on X.
Stubb describes the cooperation as a new step in the two countries' defence relationship and states that it also supports NATO's deterrence and defence. He ends the post by thanking Sweden.
Sweden's Ministry of Defence states in a press release that the cooperation complements Finland's national measures to counter drone threats resulting from Russia's aggression against Ukraine. According to the Ministry, the cooperation also demonstrates the two countries' ability to operate together and take responsibility for security in the region and on NATO's eastern flank.
According to Finland's Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, cooperation in the air and maritime domains is already an integral part of bilateral and Nordic defence cooperation. He states that the new cooperation is in line with efforts within NATO.