Nordic cooperation on foreign and security policy

Finland’s closest international partners are the other Nordic countries. The Nordic countries share a common security environment and engage in close foreign and security policy cooperation, which enjoys wide political and public support.

Foreign and security policy cooperation has a long history in the Nordic countries. The countries have collaborated in peacekeeping and crisis management missions and worked together to promote human rights. The Nordic countries have deepened their cooperation in recent years.

All of the Nordic countries have been members of NATO since March 2024. Their NATO membership strengthens the security and stability of both the Nordic countries and the Baltic Sea region.

Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has weakened the security situation in the Baltic Sea region and other neighbouring areas. At the same time, security threats in Finland’s neighbouring areas have become increasingly diverse in nature. They may include hybrid influence activities, uncontrolled migration and terrorism and security challenges related to the new technologies. Any changes are reflected in the Nordic foreign and security policy agenda, presenting not only challenges but also new opportunities and needs for cooperation.

Nordic cooperation on foreign and security policy (N5)

The Nordic countries discuss foreign and security policy issues in the Nordic 5 (N5) cooperation format composed of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. By working together based on their shared goals, the Nordic countries can both strengthen security in their own region and promote global security.

The Nordic countries cooperate both bilaterally and multilaterally on foreign and security policy on the basis of common goals. Various authorities engage in many forms of cooperation often in very concrete ways.

Defending international law and the rules-based international system is increasingly important. For Finland, interaction with the Nordic partners is also a way of selectively promoting its other central security and defence policy objectives, the EU’s common security policy and cooperation with NATO.

The Nordic countries are cooperating in other sectors, too. In contexts where the countries have not agreed on a rotating chairmanship, the country holding the chairmanship of the Nordic Council of Ministers usually chairs meetings.

Nordic-Baltic foreign and security policy cooperation (NB8)

The Nordic and Baltic countries are Finland’s close partners. The countries have cooperated in foreign and security policy since the beginning of the 1990s. Common foreign and security policy issues are discussed in the Nordic-Baltic 8 (NB8) format composed of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The NB8 group regularly exchanges views on topical foreign and security policy issues both at the level of ministers and public officials. The NB8 cooperation complements the EU integration and the cooperation and dialogue between the five Nordic countries (N5).

There are no permanent structures or a secretariat for the NB8 cooperation; instead, the countries participating in the cooperation take turns as chair.