![Den 18 december 2019 besökte överbefälhavare, general Micael Bydén sin finske motsvarighet, general Timo Kivinen i Helsingfors. Under besöket undertecknade försvarschefer ett militärstrategiskt koncept för det fördjupade finsk-svenska försvarssamarbetet.]()
The Chiefs of Defence, General Micael Bydén (Sweden) and General Timo Kivinen (Finland) signed the Military Strategic Concept for the deepened defence cooperation.
Photo: Juhani Kandell
− The deepened defence cooperation with Sweden has taken big steps forward during 2019, General Kivinen said.
The Finnish-Swedish defence cooperation supports the political aim to build the capability to conduct Combined Joint Operations, ultimately increasing security in the Baltic Sea region and the High North. The objective of the cooperation is to boost the respective countries’ defence capabilities an build the capability to conduct joint operations. While execution of bilateral military operations is subject to national decisions, the core of cooperation is the ability to act and conduct operations together during peacetime, crises and war. A prerequisite for joint military action is the high level of mutual trust which has been developed since the outset of the cooperation.
During 2019, the Finnish-Swedish defence cooperation has increased its pace setting strategic and operational steering directions, expanding the size and numbers of exchanges and exercises, such as the extensive Swedish exercise Northern Wind in March. The cooperation is also taking further steps in joint operational planning and combined training and exercises.
− Sweden’s cooperation with Finland is essential. Our combined capabilities are warranties for an raised threshold in our region, general Bydén said.