Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (AP) says he has talked to his Swedish and Finnish colleagues about how to combine NATO membership with being neighbors with Russia.
“I think both Sweden and Finland have studied Norway’s experiences carefully, because we have shown that we can be neighbors with Russia and keep low tensions while at the same time being a member of NATO,” he told the newspaper VG.
Last week, Støre visited the Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson in Stockholm. Next week he will be visited by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö in Oslo. Both Sweden and Finland are considering joining NATO, and they’re in close contact with Norway in relation to the issue, Støre said.
“Yes, it is now a very close contact,” Støre noted.
Defense cooperation
He emphasized that it is important for the Norwegian authorities that the two countries make their own choices regarding NATO membership and that they are not pressured.
Defense cooperation between the Nordic countries has strengthened in the last 10-15 years and will remain close regardless of the NATO outcome, he said.
“Regardless of Sweden and Finland’s choices, cooperation will be strengthened,” Støre concluded.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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