On 29–30 June, the defence ministers of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, met in Tuusula just north of Helsinki, within the framework of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO). The deteriorated regional security situation and further enhanced cooperation was the focus of discussions during the first physical NORDEFCO ministerial meeting since the outbreak of the pandemic.
NORDEFCO forms the structure and format of both defence policy and military cooperation in the areas of capabilities, human resources and education, training and exercises, operations and defence equipment.
The NORDEFCO Chairmanship rotates between the member states. Finland holds the Chairmanship in 2021 and therefore hosted the ministerial meeting on 29–30 June.
NORDEFCO was established in 2009, and the cooperation has gradually expanded. Meetings are held at various levels within the NORDEFCO framework, and ministerial meetings are held twice a year.