“The increasing need for cooperation is emphasised now that the price for defence technology is constantly growing and the influence of climate change is visible in the near-by regions”, says former Norwegian Foreign Minister Thorvald Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg was recently appointed to chair the Nordic Foreign and Security Policy Working Group which is starting its work at the moment. During his visit in Finland, Stoltenberg met with the two Finnish members of the Group.
Stoltenberg met on 8 August with the two Finnish expert members researcher Ulla Anttila and Professor Tuomas Forsberg and Finnish decision-makers. In addition, at an event organised by the Foreign Ministry he met representatives of a Finnish Security Policy Youth Forum.
Stoltenberg told the audience about the report on the development of the Nordic security policy and the high-level Working Group with two Finnish members, set up to make the report. Stoltenberg has formerly served as Norwegian Foreign and Defence Minister.
The chairman of the Finnish Security Policy Youth Forum, Johan Ekman, spoke on behalf of the Forum. Stoltenberg and Ekman agreed on the importance of the Nordic cooperation in the foreign and security policy. This is a good moment to increase and deepen the cooperation between the Nordic countries.
Stoltenberg said that the increasing need for cooperation is emphasised now that the price for defence technology is constantly growing and the influence of climate change is visible in the near-by regions. He commented on the big glacier melting in the northern regions and its possible security consequences. The report which will be published at the end of the year will deal with these issues, as well as with the development of the cooperation in External Action Service and in crisis management.
Ekman talked about the activities and discussions of the Youth Forum that have taken place so far. The aim of the Youth Forum is to publish in September their position concerning the issues of the report on the foreign and security policy. Perhaps the most important task of the Forum, however, is to participate in the security policy debates in Finland bringing in their fresh views. Ekman highlighted the Youth Forum’s views on a selective military service and Finland’s need for a military alliance in one way or another.
The discussion was carried out fluently in the common language of “Scandinavian” and Stoltenberg was asked several demanding questions that gave him thought for the working group’s work. In addition to the members of the Security Policy Youth Forum, Foreign Ministry’s young officials from the Training Course on International Affairs and other staff members participated in the event organised by the Foreign Ministry.
Juha Rainne from the Training Course on International Affairs asked if the Stoltenberg Group will address international humanitarian law. He considered promoting the international humanitarian law a natural part of the Nordic security policy cooperation. Stoltenberg, also the Head of Red Cross in Norway, said this viewpoint has not been discussed so far but that the suggestion was very good and it is to be considered by the Group.
