Denmark and Finland solidified their Nordic defense alliance on Tuesday by signing a landmark defense cooperation pact aimed at enhancing security in the Baltic Sea region.

The agreement, signed in Helsinki by Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen, underscores the growing military collaboration between the two nations amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

The pact focuses on joint NATO training missions, closer cooperation on F-35 fighter jet operations, and strengthening regional defense capabilities. It also includes plans for joint training exercises in Nordic conditions, personnel exchanges, and the potential for coordinated military procurement, including air refueling tankers.

“We live in uncertain times with war on European soil – Nordic unity is crucial,” Poulsen said during the signing ceremony, emphasizing the need for enhanced regional cooperation in response to rising tensions in the Baltic Sea.

The agreement builds on Denmark’s existing trilateral defense pact with Norway and Sweden, signed in 2021, and comes just a week after Denmark announced a new partnership with Norwegian-Finnish arms manufacturer Nammo to restart an ammunition plant in Elling, Denmark, by 2027.

Poulsen stressed the importance of efficiency in the collaboration, suggesting that “Finns might handle tasks for us; we’ll reciprocate.” He also urged Nordic countries to work toward a broader regional defense procurement agreement by 2025.

The move follows recent security concerns in the Baltic Sea, including a suspected sabotage attempt on Gotland’s water supply last weekend. A severed power cable nearly disrupted services for the Swedish island’s 61,000 residents, raising fears of hybrid warfare tactics in the region.

Analysts view the Helsinki-Copenhagen agreement as a step toward strategic self-reliance for Nordic nations, particularly amid uncertainties surrounding the Trump administration’s commitment to European security. (ILKHA)