Tal
Karlberg Palace, Stockholm 9 november 2007
Sten Tolgfors, Försvarsminister

Speech by Sten Tolgfors, Swedish Minister for Defence, at the Swedish Atlantic Council conference

Check against delivery/ Det talade ordet gäller

Ladies and Gentlemen,

"Enhanced Nordic Cooperation in a Euro-Atlantic context" - is not only the title of this speech. It is also - in one sentence - the core of my policy. The Nordic countries and peoples have a lot in common. History records both quarrels and cooperation between our peoples. But the quarrels have since long been reduced to the occasional case of sibling rivalry, as we consider ourselves as close as siblings. The fact is that our relations are as good as bilateral relations between countries possibly can be. We are economically and politically interdependent.

We have all, in slightly more than a hundred years, developed from poor agricultural societies to modern ones based on industry, trade, services and natural resources.

As to our world outlooks, we share values such as support for international law and for the UN system, for international poverty reduction, for human rights and gender equality. We are all taking part international peace support operations, and are thereby net exporters of security, peace and stability and democratic values. And we all share a dependency on, and support for, a well-functioning Euro-Atlantic security system.

During the 20th century democracy prevailed due to the transatlantic link. In many ways the transatlantic link remains just as important today, and my Government has clearly pointed out the importance of strengthening our political relations with the US.

Despite all our similarities the Nordic countries are a mixed group when it comes to how we have arranged for our countries´ national security. Sweden, just like Finland, is a militarily non-aligned EU Member State. Iceland and Norway are both NATO allies but not members of the EU. Denmark belongs to both the EU and NATO, but does not participate in the European Security and Defence Policy. Our Baltic neighbours Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - with whom we cooperate closely - are all members of both NATO and the EU. In that sense, they are the only three in our group being fully integrated in the European security system, without exception. How is that for historical change?

Let me point out that the fact that Sweden is a militarily non-aligned country means just that and precisely that. We neither give nor take binding security guarantees. We are politically aligned in the EU. We do cooperate extensively with others under the umbrella of the UN, the EU and NATO in international peace support missions. We also cooperate increasingly in defence policy with our neighbours, with no restrictions other than Article 5 commitments.

The Nordic countries today face a number of common security challenges. Old threats have been replaced by new challenges and new political ambitions. To transform old structures and develop new capacities in order to have relevant and sufficient military capabilities for a new, complex and constantly evolving reality is a great task.

We need to broaden and deepen the Nordic defence cooperation. International cooperation is a prerequisite both for handling most conflicts around the globe and for us upholding the operational capabilities needed for our national defences. This development should not be seen as a substitute for, but instead as complementary to cooperation within the EU and NATO framework.

I have been in office for about two months now but my interest in security policy goes back to the beginning of the 1990s, when I worked at the Ministry of Defence the first time. Before joining the Government I served on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, a short time as its Chair. Let me just point out that my Government´s aims for international operations are clear:
1. We want to double our capacity to contribute in international operations.
2. We want to be a responsible and active partner in the development of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
3. We want to further develop our good relations with NATO and the UN.
Cooperation with our Nordic neighbours is the key to accomplish this.

Experience from international operations clearly states the need for a comprehensive approach and in particular cooperation between the UN, the EU and NATO. The UN is depending on help from others - states and organisations - to perform international missions and the need for contribution seems to be constant. At the same time the EU is raising its ambitions in the field of foreign policy and crisis management capability, and has in this respect identified a need to cooperate with the US and NATO, for example regarding strategic transport.

Over the years the Nordic nations have developed broad, flexible, transparent and well functioning cooperation in the defence realm, with close bonds between all the Nordic nations.

The flexible format of the Nordic defence cooperation is an advantage. Various fields of cooperation can be developed either on a Nordic basis or - just as well - on a bi- or trilateral basis, given the needs identified by each nation. Everything, of course, is done in full transparency. No Nordic country should feel left out. We have an institutionalised cooperation in the so called Nordic-Baltic format with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Apart from regular bilateral meetings we hold two Nordic and one Nordic-Baltic meeting at ministerial level each year. We just concluded constructive and forward-looking meetings this week in Sweden. For example, we decided on a new Swedish initiative to cooperate on the issue of Medevac assistance in Afghanistan.

To support cooperation between the Nordic nations we have well established structures within NORDCAPS - regarding peace support operations - and within NORDAC - regarding defence materiel cooperation.

There is a strong and mutual political will to look for new forms of cooperation and common solutions within new areas. So much is happening that perhaps the scope of Nordic defence cooperation has not been bigger since the post World War II discussions.

In principle there are no limits to what could be done as long as the national right of decision and freedom to act is preserved.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Almost any conceivable substantial international peace support operation we might participate in will be a good example of "Enhanced Nordic Defence Cooperation in a Euro-Atlantic Context".

* Sweden cooperates closely with the other Nordic nations in the NATO-led operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Which I have discussed with the Secretary-General today.
* Regarding the planned EU-led operation in Chad we are looking into the possibility of deploying together with Finland.
* In Darfur the plan is to participate in a UN-led mission with a Swedish-Norwegian contingent.
* In the field of Security Sector Reform (SSR) the Nordic-Baltic countries coordinate Security Sector Reform activities in the Ukraine and in the Western Balkans.
* But maybe the Nordic Battle Group - which I will come back to - is the ultimate example of enhanced Nordic cooperation in a Euro-Atlantic context.

International peace support operations are always conducted with others, and the scope for Nordic cooperation in international operations is obvious for the future. To develop our common capability to conduct peace support operations has become a key aspect of our cooperation. And it does deserve to be mentioned that we all have gained important capabilities, primarily interoperability, through NATO - either as partners or as allies.

In this context, let me underline the importance Sweden puts on civil emergency planning within the NATO/PfP framework that has been carried out through the cooperation among the Nordic countries. It is Sweden´s ambition to broaden and deepen this cooperation and I would be glad if this could continue to be done together with our Nordic friends.

Over the last 50 years 100 000 Swedish men and women have served in altogether 120 international operations in 60 different countries in support of peace, security and development. Some of these missions are long term - we´ve been in Korea for more than 50 years. I had the opportunity to visit them last June. Some of them have been short term, such as the recent deployment to Lebanon.

Our participation in international operations contributes not only to the security of others, but also to our own. We gain valuable experience for the development of our Armed Forces. We also gain influence in international organisations and in conflict resolution processes. Our participation strengthens Sweden´s voice abroad.

I would like to point out how much we appreciate our Swedish soldiers and personnel for their efforts and their willingness to accept missions that may include personal risk and surely means being separated from friends and family for a period of time. We will try to do more to show this appreciation.

With our troop contributions comes a significant political responsibility. It is of utmost importance to us that men and women will not be deployed without proper equipment and training, and without the most sincere political decision making process. In no other political field is broad political consensus and support so necessary.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Making significant contributions to international crisis management is a priority for Sweden. Indeed, our contributions to international crisis management operations will increase. Currently we have a little less than 850 soldiers serving abroad, most of them in NATO-led operations - ISAF in Afghanistan and KFOR in Kosovo. On top of this we are preparing to deploy 200 soldiers to an ESDP-mission to Chad and 150 to a UN-led mission in Darfur, Sudan.

If the Nordic Battle Group deploys next year, that could mean an additional 2350 troops from Sweden and another 500 from Norway, Finland, Estonia and Ireland engaged in defending peace, security and development.

The Nordic Battle Group is one of Sweden´s main undertakings. Its establishment adds credibility to the political actions of the EU. The European Union is the leading soft power in the world but it has lacked military capabilities to back up its foreign policy. The Battle Group concept will help us to ameliorate this imbalance of capabilities.

It is also an important catalyst for the transformation of our armed forces, and for increased cooperation among Nordic nations. The fact that this is done together with Ireland and Estonia only illustrates the high relevance of the headline I have been given - an enhanced Nordic cooperation in a Euro-Atlantic context.

The NBG illustrates how the division between members and non-members of EU and NATO is becoming less obvious in ongoing international cooperation and operations, where both organisations are engaged militarily and/or in civil activities.

This is one reason why the Nordic nations stress the need for closer cooperation between EU and NATO. We also support each other when it comes to the right of a non-member nation participating in international operations led by one of the organisations. It is important to have timely access to information and the right to participate in relevant planning- and decision making. I am very glad to see the personal engagement of the Secretary-General.

During this year we have continued to prepare for the Nordic Battle Group´s readiness period, January-June next year. We have held political consultations on a regular basis. Joint training activities have been organised on both military and political levels.

The day before yesterday I visited the Nordic Battle Group-exercise in Luleå, together with my Irish and Estonian colleagues. The fact that all five nations involved in the BG of 2008 already have expressed interest in participating again in 2011 is a sign of good cooperation. My BG colleagues told me that, in their opinion, our BG might be the best prepared BG ever in the EU. We will evaluate the preparatory work, as well as the lessons of any deployment, in order to be even better prepared next time.

However, international crisis management is not the only field of Nordic cooperation. Capability development, training and education, joint sea surveillance and joint initiatives within international organisations are already a fact.

Let me elaborate a little on a few significant areas of cooperation:

The Nordic countries share a commitment to promote civil-military coordination to maximise output from international operations. Acting together we can better promote our views within international organisations. In this regard the enhanced coordination between security and development efforts are particularly important. Without security there will be no development and without development there will be no security.

Sea surveillance is another very interesting and useful area of cooperation. After the disaster when the passenger ship Estonia went down in the Baltic Sea in 1994, with more that 850 lives lost, bilateral Swedish-Finnish discussions started on the creation of a mechanism for shared sea surveillance information. Today the so-called SUCFIS cooperation is operative, with real time exchange of radar information 24-hours a day. The result is a shared situational awareness for most of the Baltic Sea that helps us improve maritime security, for example regarding emergencies at sea, border control, crime prevention and environmental protection. Denmark, Norway and Iceland have been invited as observers. In the long run there is also the possibility of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joining.

A similar form of cooperation regarding sharing of air surveillance information is currently being developed by Sweden and Finland.

Let me just mention a few more areas where we already interact:

* We have just started to discuss how best to support the African Union and its regional partner organisations in the field of capacity building for crisis management.
* We are, together with the Baltic nations, discussing the possibilities for cooperation within the framework of the NATO Response Force (NRF). Perhaps there will be a decision before the Bucharest meeting in April 2008.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As mentioned, one important point of the Nordic defence cooperation is its flexible format. When an opportunity is identified, those of us who so wish can engage in bi- or trilateral cooperation projects without the others feeling excluded.

Let me elaborate a bit on an initiative that I find very interesting - the joint Swedish-Norwegian feasibility study, recently presented by our two armed forces. The aim of the study was to find common solutions to shared challenges and shortages, and to strengthen the operational and economic balance within the armed forces. The study was made by the armed forces and presented to the political level in Oslo and Stockholm. The ideas brought forward in the study will now be evaluated, in a positive manner, and assessed by the respective country´s MoD.

The report has been produced with full openness towards our Finnish friends, and in fact a similar report will be produced with Finland during next spring. The suggested cooperation brings with it possibilities of increasing economic efficiency, but primarily capability development and operational advantages.

The primary result of the study is 18 case studies where bilateral cooperation or integration could provide substantial effects. Some of these are:
shared use of shooting and exercise ranges; coordinated procurement and logistic solutions; management education; advanced distributed learning, common staff officer education; and common female/gender military observation teams in international operations. The Armed Forces also see a potential for a continued close cooperation within the area of defence planning.

Additional nations - Nordic or maybe Baltic - could possibly be included in various suitable cooperation projects in the future. In my view this Nordic cooperation is key to the future Swedish defence policy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

While most of the countries occupied by Hitler or Stalin in 1939 and 1940 regained their independence in 1944/45, the Baltic States had to wait almost another half century for their liberation. Sympathy for the Baltic States´ struggle for independence ran wide and deep in the Nordic countries in the 1990s - I myself wrote a booklet concerning increased Baltic Sea cooperation - and after independence there was a desire to support them in rebuilding their societies.

There was also a will to help them assert their sovereignty, which was in our interest too. Cautiously at first, but then with increasing boldness, including armed forces. Nordic cooperation turned out to be very useful in this endeavour, and the common interest in the Baltic States helped to deepen and expand Nordic cooperation in the defence field. Projects such as BALTBAT and the Baltic Defence College served not only to build capacity, but also to increase Nordic, Baltic and Nordic-Baltic cooperation.

Sweden early negotiated free trade agreements with the reborn states, and helped expand them to the entire EU. We supported their EU and NATO memberships. For my generation this was defining for political engagement.

Now, some ten to fifteen years later, the Baltic States are solid members of the Euro-Atlantic security structures, members of both the EU and NATO, and with booming economies. They can now serve as an example for others and even offer the same sort of security assistance they once received by helping other states undergo the transition to western standards. Few things have been more important than this during the last decades.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To conclude, the Nordic countries have developed an institutionalised flexible and transparent, well functioning defence cooperation.

I see few limitations for the Nordic defence cooperation. Maybe we could see something like truly joint Nordic units in international peace support missions. Transparent and more integrated defence planning processes will be the way to create these capabilities. A more joint "defence production line", if you like. This may include, for example, joint staff officers training, joint procurement and development projects, and shared use of infrastructure and logistics. And maybe we will get to see a broader and deeper cooperation as regards sea and air surveillance, enhancing security in the Baltic region from both a military and a civilian perspective.

However, all of the above should be done without infringing on the respective nations´ right of self-determination and freedom of action.

Nordic defence cooperation is not to be seen as a substitute for cooperation within the EU or the NATO framework. On the contrary, the idea is to strengthen the Nordic countries´ defence capabilities and thereby enable us to be active, significant and efficient members, allies or partners within the Euro-Atlantic structures, as well as in other contexts.

Moreover, the Nordic countries could be instrumental in bridging the gap between EU and NATO as we have proved to be close partners although we have chosen different organisational arrangements for our national security.
The Nordic nations themselves, the European Union, the NATO Alliance, the UN and others all stand to gain from an enhanced Nordic cooperation in the Euro-Atlantic context.

Thank you.