Defence cooperation with Finland

A long-standing defence partnership

The Nordic countries are a fantastic part of the world that is worth defending.

With our shared values and similar interests, Sweden and Finland have embarked upon a more extensive defence partnership.

We have a long tradition of partnership in respect of defence, and in 2014 the then Ministers of Defence signed an action plan for more extensive defence cooperation between the countries.

The purpose of the cooperation

The aim of this defence cooperation between Sweden and Finland is to:

• improve the defensive capabilities of the countries
• conduct joint operations
• promote collective interests in respect of defence
• increase the security situation in the Baltic Sea region.

The partnership has been expanded upon in multiple stages over the last few years.

Development of the defence cooperation

Since 2015, the Government has allowed the Armed Forces to manage more extensive defence partnership with Finland; in the defence policy alignment decision for the period 2016–2020, and in Appropriation Directions.

The Government has also made a number of separate decisions aiming to expand upon the partnership with Finland in a number of specific fields.

Memorandum of Understanding

In July 2018, the Swedish and Finnish Ministers of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

This memorandum specifies a number of fields where the partnership is to be developed.

The cooperation includes:

• communication on defence and security policy
• exercises and training
• surveillance and maintaining territorial integrity

The countries will also have access to one another’s territories for military units, host nation support and measures to create conditions for joint military action.

This includes:

• operational planning
• tactical planning
• interoperability.