To counter the Russian threat, the Nordic countries will consolidate their air forces

Copenhagen – Commanders of the Air Force Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark They announced the signing on Friday Letter To create an integrated Nordic air defence, A fleet of 250 fighter jetsIt is intended to counter the growing threat from Russia.

The idea is to be able to work together Based on already known methods of operation within the NATO framework, according to reports from the armed forces of the four countries. The Danish Air Force chief, Major General John Tam, said the move to unify the air forces was prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

“Our combined fleet can be compared to that of a major European nation”Dame said.

Norway It has 57 F-16 fighter jets and 37 F-35 fighter jets and has ordered 15 more fighters. Finland 62 F/A-18 Hornet fighters and 64 F-35s are on order. Denmark It has 58 F-16s and 27 F-35s on order. Sweden There are over 90 Gripen. It is not clear how many of those flights were operated.

NATO Air Command Chairman General James Hecker attended the signing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany last week.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland Last year it decided to abandon decades of neutrality to apply for membership in the Transatlantic Military Alliance The process has been slowed by Turkey, which, along with Hungary, has yet to ratify its accession. Membership in NATO requires the unanimous support of all participating nations.

However, orders march at different rates, and It has not been ruled out that Finland could enter before Sweden.

Last week, Swedish President Sauli Niinisto said Finland’s security would not be jeopardized if Finland joined NATO first.

“Finland may join NATO before Sweden”, Niinistö announced in an interview with Swedish station SVT published last Sunday. “Should we have rejected Turkey’s offer of ratification? That seems a bit far-fetched to me. It would have been a very difficult situation for Ankara to have said ‘no’.

In this way, Niinisto referred to his visit to Ankara, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his government would recognize Finland’s request, but not Sweden’s. Until the differences between Ankara and Stockholm are resolved.

Many experts agree that negotiations with Turkey on Sweden’s entry into NATO will drag on for a long time. Stockholm will be affected by the military situation in the Baltic region.

For this reason, Niinistö announced it Finland, Sweden and Denmark are engaged in parallel negotiations with the United States on security issuesWith the goal of reaching a military agreement similar to the one Norway previously had with Washington.

“I think it’s a bigger change than being a NATO member,” Niinisto said when asked what would happen if Sweden’s talks on NATO membership were delayed about negotiations with the United States. “It would mean a lot if we (Nordic countries) all had a direct and very similar agreement with the US,” he said.

Reuters Agency

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