Non-aligned Sweden and Finland have agreed to pursue a “special” defense partnership to include joint operations and material procurement.
A provisional pact emerged from talks between Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Finnish President Sauli Niinistö at the annual Society & Defense conference held Jan. 12 in Sälen, Sweden.
Finland and Sweden view the building of a special defense relationship as reinforcing their non-aligned positions to remain outside NATO.
For Sweden, the move comes as Reinfeldt’s ruling center-right coalition government faces harsh criticism over its handling of defense spending ahead of September parliamentary elections.
The projected partnership will aim to strengthen the military capabilities of each country, said Karin Enström, Sweden’s defense minister.