Unnoticed by the world press, a new and semi-official European coalition is forming. Faced with the aggression of Russia against Ukraine, a political and military European quintuplet has organized. Officially called the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), this organization consists of the nations of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland. The European quintuplet is alarmed by the aggressive behavior of Russia under the leadership of the Tatar, Vladimir Putin. The 5 nations are steadily building up their defenses and working to integrate their forces and improve their inter-operability.
NORDEFCO is a subset of NATO, but these five nations are cooperating at the political and military level below the NATO command. The organization was formed in 2009, but with the Russian attack on Ukraine, and the continuing struggle there, NORDEFCO has increased its level of cooperation. NORDEFCO met in April of 2024 to further strengthen cooperation among the five members. Called “Vision 2030” the document signed by the minister of the five nations call for eight measures to strengthen the alliance.
Vision 2030 will strengthen Nordic defense cooperation in eight areas:
- Strategic dialogue and consultations on current issues and the security situation
- Ability to conduct and command multinational combined operations
- Host nation support and logistical support to enable joint operations
- Military mobility to, between and through the Nordic countries
- Capabilities based on strategic and operational requirements
- Defense materiel cooperation for increased interchangeability
- Security of military supplies for increased resilience.
- Total defense to secure adequate support to the defense sector from all sectors of society, in all threatening scenarios and situations
Within NORDEFCO Sweden Is the Industrial Powerhouse
The addition of Sweden into NATO added to the industrial power of NATO but also buttresses the industrial power of NORDEFCO.
Sweden has an extraordinarily strong and successful industrial manufacturing sector which accounts for twenty percent of Sweden’s GDP. That would have a value of $117 billion.
Advanced manufacturing accounts for $40 billion of that total. Sweden’s manufacturing base has additive manufacturing. Sweden was one of the early adoptees of the 3-D printing process. Sweden also produces a third of the world’s metal powder used in additive manufacturing. Sweden is also using digital information technology to streamline its manufacturing processes. Sweden has manufacturing in steel, autos, chemical plants, and industrial machinery. In addition, Sweden has large deposits of iron ore with 5% of the world’s reserves. Sweden has a population of 10.5 million people, all who are highly educated.
Sweden’s has been described as a “pocket military power.” Sweden’s foreign policy was to be neutral over the years, and so has developed a strong military, with a fully developed military industrial complex.
Sweden has an army of 25,600 active-duty soldiers, with 11,800 army reservists as well as 22,200 members of the Home Guard. Sweden’s navy has 387 naval vessels. Sweden’s air force consists of 425 combat aircraft with 28 wartime squadrons. Sweden hosts a forward air base for US B-1B bombers at Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden when the bombers are forward deployed.
Norway
Norway brings to the alliance a highly developed economy with one of the highest standards of living in the world. Blessed with large natural reserves of oil and minerals, Norway is capable of supplying NORDEFCO with a steady source of fuel in the event of a conflict.
Norway’s rich fishing grounds provide for a steady export of foodstuffs. These exports are valued at NOK 28 billion ($2.65 billion USD), and accounts for 5% of Norwegian exports.
Norway boasts 102 military aircraft of several types. Norway’s navy has 25 vessels from frigates to patrol boats. Her Army has only 9,350 soldiers and 36 Leopard tanks. The Army has 40,500 reservists. The Norwegian air force is upgrading to the F-35 and will have 57 F-35s when the upgrade is complete.
Because of the increased threat, Norway has embarked on an ambitious naval buildup. This buildup will include five blue water frigates. Besides these frigates Norway will be adding an additional four new Type 212CD submarines that are being developed with Germany.
Norway also boasts of the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world with assets of $1.6 trillion.
Finland
Of the five members of the NORDEFCO organization, Finland is the most exposed member. Its border with Russia measures 1,340km (830 miles), mostly north to south. Finland has the most danger in any event of a war with Russia.
Finland has a complicated history with Russia. The Tsar’s Russian Empire repeatedly tried to conquer Finland which was then a part of the Swedish Empire. As a result of the defeat of Charles the 12th at Poltava, in 1809 Finland became an autonomous member of the Russian Imperium. Finland declared its independence from the Russian in 1917 and was recognized by the United States in 1919.
During the “Winter War” with the Soviet Union from 1939 to 1940, Finland was forced to cede 9% of its territory. In June of 1941 with Germany attacking Russia, and after the Soviet air force bombed Finland, the “Continuation War” began. Hostilities between Russia and Finland ended in September of 1944. Finland had to cede further territory to Russia and had to pay war reparations.
Finland has a population of 5.56 million people. Finland has been a member of the European Union since January 1, 1999. Alarmed by Russian aggression, Finland became a member of NATO on April 4, 2023.
Finland’s military as of June 24, 2024, the Finish Army has 18,400 conscripts on active duty with another 18,400 reservists on active duty for refresher training. Finland has 900,000 trained reserves. Finland’s air force has 139 aircraft in its active-duty complement. The Finish navy has 246 ships on active duty.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country even though its location is on the Jutland peninsula and numerous islands. Sweden and Denmark are connected via the Oresund bridge. Denmark’s population is 5,964,059 and a GDP of $400 billion. Its Army has 25,400 active-duty personnel with a reserve of 63,000. It has 363 tracked vehicles and 257 wheeled armored vehicles. The Danish air force has 120 aircraft, and 3,476 active-duty personnel. The Danish Navy has 61 ships. Denmark has sovereignty over Greenland. Greenland occupies a strategic part of the North Atlantic. Along with Iceland, Greenland forms a choke point into the North Atlantic from the Artic Ocean. Any Russia naval assets attempting to break into the North Atlantic, would come under attack from land based aircraft.
Iceland
Iceland is an island nation in the North Atlantic. It has a population of 382,000 people, most of whom live in Reykjavik. Iceland has a GDP of $28 billion. Iceland has no military, though it does have a defense treaty with the United States. No US troops are stationed in Iceland. Like Greenland, Iceland is in a strategic position which forms a choke point for entrance into the North Atlantic. And like Greenland, land based air assets can effectively close any entrance into the North Atlantic.
Should The Quintuplet Add Poland as a Sixth Member?
While NORDEFCO has impressive assets, it has a glaring weakness as it does not have the manpower to successfully fend off an aggressive Russia.
Poland has a population of 36.82 million people and has a GDP of $668 billion.
Poland’s army currently has 190,000 military personnel under arms and plans to increase its strength to 300,000 in the next few years. According to Global Firepower, Poland has the 21st most powerful military in the world.
The Polish navy has 46 ships and over 12,000 personnel. Poland is aggressively upgrading its combat ability with the laying of the keel of the Polish navy’s new class of frigates called the Miecznik-class. Poland will be purchasing another two, with an option for four more of this class of frigates.
While Scandinavia and Poland have a checkered history, the threat from Putin is strong enough for this history to be consigned to the past, and security interests of all six countries placed foremost. The combination of these forces would prove strong enough to deter Putin’s Russia.