The Heads of State and Government of the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) have today tasked the former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to prepare an independent report with policy recommendations aimed at advancing Nordic-Baltic security and defence cooperation.
Mr. Stoltenberg will analyse and present recommendations on how to enhance the regional cooperation to further strengthen the NB8 region’s deterrence and defence. The report will primarily focus on military defence, but also measures to counter Russian sabotage and other hybrid threats.
“After Finland and Sweden joined NATO, closer regional cooperation among the Baltic states and the Nordic countries has become a daily necessity. The search for new forms of collaboration is important for all our countries, as well as for strengthening NATO's deterrence and defence in the Baltic Sea region. Latvia is one of the leading countries in terms of defence spending. We will also continue to strengthen our resilience against all kinds of conventional and hybrid threats as well as enhance capacity and output of defence industry,” says Prime Minister of Latvia Evika Siliņa.
The report is scheduled to be presented ahead of the NATO Summit in The Hague in June 2025.
“Together with my Nordic and Baltic colleagues, I look forward to receiving Mr Stoltenberg’s recommendations in preparation for NATO Summit. This report will serve as an important foundation for our joint discussions,” says Prime Minister of Latvia.
“The Nordic-Baltic region is facing a more serious security situation. I am confident that Jens Stoltenberg can provide able and independent advice for our discussions in NB8 to strengthen our regional cooperation on defence and security”, says Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen of Denmark, chair of the NB8-format during 2025.
“For the first time in history, all the Nordic and Baltic countries are members of the same military alliance. That brings new opportunities, and this report is an important initiative to deepen defence and security cooperation in our region. I am grateful to get the chance to play my part”, says Jens Stoltenberg.