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Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre discussed Nato cooperation and international conflicts in Oslo.
Finland and Norway plan to improve their cross-border rail and road connections for military use. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre made the announcement at a press conference in Oslo with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Wednesday after the two held talks at the premier’s official residence.
They proposed similar cooperation and consolidation of infrastructure with Sweden. As of last spring, all three countries are members of Nato.
“The border between Finland and Norway is more than 700 kilometres long. We discussed what it means for defence planning and infrastructure from east to west. Cooperation regarding both road and train connections in military use is underway,” Gahr Støre said.
“We have to keep in mind that Finland is an island. We also need access to the north via Norway,” said Stubb.
NATO base in Lapland?
The two discussed the possibility that Nato’s newest Forward Land Forces (FLF) headquarters will be located in Finnish Lapland. According to the prime minister, Norway is ready to contribute when Nato operations are established in Finland, but he declined to estimate how many Norwegian soldiers would be sent to Finland.
“It is clear that from a military strategic point of view, our closest allies are Norway and Sweden. We have a lot in common. The defence departments of the countries are currently working on what kind of [defence policy] entity we will create,” said Stubb.
Stubb and Støre also discussed support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and neighbouring relations with Russia. They described their relationship and attitude towards the United States as very similar.
According to Stubb, Finland has much to learn from Norway, which has been a Nato member since its inception in 1949. Stubb said that Finland will be a very constructive, reliable member of the alliance.
Gahr Støre and Stubb also said they have known each other for 15 years, since Stubb’s years as foreign minister.
Stubb was scheduled to hold a separate press conference for the Finnish media on Wednesday afternoon.
West to Bergen
Stubb and his wife, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, are on a three-day state visit to Norway through Thursday.
On Wednesday, Stubb’s programme started with a foreign and security policy discussion at the BI Norwegian Business School.
His afternoon schedule included a working lunch hosted by the Norwegian government and a business seminar arranged by the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) and the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK).
The visit to Oslo ends with a reception at the Nobel Peace Center. On Thursday, the presidential couple visits Bergen on the west coast.
The Finnish state visit delegation includes Minister of Transport, Communications and the Interior Lulu Ranne (Finns) and Turku Mayor Minna Arve (NCP).
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