SHARE
COPY LINK

NATO

Norway and Denmark give guarantee to Nordic neighbours over Nato bids

Norway, Denmark and Iceland stated on Monday they would provide assistance "by all means necessary" to their Nordic neighbours, Sweden and Finland, should either of the latter two countries face attacks on their territory before joining Nato.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has announced her government's decision to take Sweden into Nato. File photo: JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP

The Danish Prime Minister’s office on Monday issued a joint statement on behalf of Denmark, Norway and Iceland.

“Finland and Sweden’s security is a matter of common concern to us all. Should Finland or Sweden be victim of aggression on their territory before obtaining Nato membership, we will assist Finland and Sweden by all means necessary,” the statement reads.

Earlier on Monday, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson announced her government’s decision to take Sweden into Nato, ending two centuries of military non-alignment.

Sweden and Finland have both expressed a desire to act in lockstep on Nato membership and submit their applications jointly.

“We strongly welcome Finland and Sweden’s decisions to apply for Nato membership,” the statement from Denmark, Norway and Iceland read.

“We note that the decisions by Finland and Sweden to apply for Nato membership are sovereign national decisions in line with Finland and Sweden’s right to choose their own security arrangements. Finland and Sweden have the right to pursue their accession process without any attempts of outside interference,” the three countries said in the statement.

Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre said that “together with Denmark and Iceland, Norway stands ready to assist its Nordic neighbours by all means necessary should they be the victim of aggression on their territory before obtaining Nato membership.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told media on Monday afternoon that the government would forward a motion to parliament “as soon as possible” on the Swedish and Finnish applications to join Nato.

She added that Denmark is fully behind the applications to join the defence alliance.

“In our eyes, this brings an opportunity to strengthen Nordic partnerships, including on security and defence,” she said.

“We therefore want Denmark to do everything it can to make sure Finland and Sweden join Nato as soon as possible,” she said.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

METTE FREDERIKSEN

Stoltenberg stays on at Nato: What next for Danish PM Frederiksen?

Nato General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg this week confirmed he will continue in his position with the military alliance for at least another year. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had been strongly rumoured as a potential successor.

Stoltenberg stays on at Nato: What next for Danish PM Frederiksen?

Stoltenberg this week confirmed he will continue as Nato’s general secretary following a meeting with member nations’ ambassadors, who gave their backing for the decision.

That means the former Norwegian prime minister will continue as head of the military alliance until October 1st 2024, he said.

But where does this leave the current Danish PM, who was strongly rumoured to be a candidate to take over from Stoltenberg?

The decision reflects more on Stoltenberg’s capabilities than the regard in which Frederiksen is held by the international community, according to commentators in Denmark.

“This is first and foremost about what is the most stable and best thing to do when there’s a war in Ukraine,” EU correspondent with national broadcaster DR, Ole Ryborg said.

It has “always been in the Americans’ interest to convince him to continue,” he said.

But Stoltenberg staying in place does not necessarily mean rumours around Frederiksen will stop, according to the broadcaster’s political correspondent Christine Cordsen.

“But it also means [Frederiksen] need to make an extra effort to check back into Danish politics. Both in relation to government work as well as the growing power struggle within the Social Democrats,” Cordsen said to DR.

Rumours about Frederiksen’s potential departure had elicited internal discussion in the party about her own successor.

Those talks could yet gain intensity given that Stoltenberg’s extension is only by one year.

“Because that could mean that this just carries on for another year – both internally in the Social Democrats but also for political opponents who have an interest in her maybe really wanting to do something other than be prime minister of Denmark,” Cordsen said.

SHOW COMMENTS