Finland and Norway are set to enhance their rail and road infrastructure along their shared border to support military use. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced on Wednesday during a press conference in Oslo alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, following discussions at the Norwegian premier’s residence.
The two leaders also proposed similar collaboration with Sweden. Following Finland’s accession last spring, all three Nordic nations are now part of NATO.
“The border between Finland and Norway stretches over 700 kilometres. We discussed the implications for defence planning and how to strengthen infrastructure from east to west. Cooperation on military road and rail connections is underway,” Gahr Støre said.
President Stubb emphasized the importance of northern access for Finland. “We have to remember, Finland is essentially an island. We also need access to the north through Norway,” he said.
Among the topics discussed was the possibility of locating NATO’s newest Forward Land Forces (FLF) headquarters in Finnish Lapland. Gahr Støre expressed Norway’s willingness to support NATO’s operations in Finland, though he refrained from speculating on the number of Norwegian troops that might be deployed.
“From a military strategy perspective, our closest allies are Norway and Sweden. We share much in common, and our defence departments are working on what kind of defence framework we’ll establish,” Stubb added.
The two leaders also touched on broader global issues, including support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and their countries’ relations with Russia. Both expressed similar views on their relationship with the United States.
Stubb noted that Finland has much to learn from Norway’s long-standing NATO membership, dating back to the alliance’s founding in 1949, and pledged that Finland would be a constructive and reliable partner within NATO.
Gahr Støre and Stubb also highlighted their rapport. They have known each other for 15 years since Stubb was Finland’s foreign minister. Stubb was scheduled to address Finnish media later in the day.
