Sweden and Nordic neighbours start work on a defence agreement
Sweden and its Nordic neighbours have agreed to begin developing a new defence cooperation agreement, intended to give their armed forces a stronger legal framework for working together.
The decision appears in a joint statement issued after Nordic defence ministers met in Oslo on 11 and 12 November. It starts work on an agreement; it does not announce a completed treaty or an entry-into-force date.
The ministers say the work will align with NATO and contribute to the alliance’s collective defence. It builds on their Nordic defence-cooperation vision for 2030, adopted in 2024.
The statement describes existing efforts to improve combined operations, equipment development, procurement and military supplies. It also notes progress towards a goal set in 2023 to triple Nordic ammunition-production capacity by 2030. That target is not a new commitment made at this meeting.
Defence ministers also met colleagues responsible for preparedness and civil defence to discuss cooperation between civilian and military services.
The new agreement’s detailed provisions and timetable remain to be developed. The concrete change is the decision to begin that process, rather than a new deployment or a replacement for NATO.
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