Finland, Sweden: A Step Toward Greater Nordic Security Cooperation

An agreement for Finland and Sweden to participate in Iceland's air surveillance represents significant progress toward greater security collaboration within the Nordic region. The plan, which Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt agreed upon at an Oct. 30 meeting of prime ministers of the Nordic states in Helsinki, received support from Icelandic Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir.

The agreement does not yet formalize Finland or Sweden's participation in the air patrol mission; it will require ratification by the Finnish, Swedish and Icelandic parliaments, and that ratification could depend on the nature and risks of the mission. Moreover, because neither Finland nor Sweden is a NATO member (although they are signatories to NATO's Partnership for Peace program), their inclusion in air surveillance will need NATO approval as well. Although the pact is not yet finalized, it is part of a growing trend of increasing regional cooperation within Europe that has been particularly pronounced in the Nordic and Baltic regions.