Leaders of Finland, Norway and Sweden meet to discuss security in Bodø

By Hannah Thule, The Independent Barents Observer June 18, 2024
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In March, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb visited the NATO military exercise Nordic Response 2024 in Alta, Norway. Photo: Norwegian Armed Forces

Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will meet with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on June 19-20, 2024.

The topic of the meeting on June 19-20 in Bodø is the deepening cooperation between Finland, Sweden, and Norway as members of NATO. Other topics to be covered is the security situation in the neighbouring area and the connection between the Baltic Sea and the Arctic region.

In addition to the presence of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, the countries’ Defence Ministers will attend.

The municipality of Bodø is located just north of the Arctic Circle. The town of Bodø is the administrative center and the Armed Forces Operational Headquarters is located in Reitan.

The meeting starts on Wednesday evening, when Gahr Støre will receive Kristersson and Stubb on the coast guard vessel KV Svalbard, which is docked at Bodø harbor.

On Thursday, there will be an RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) tour from Bodø harbor to Saltstraumen.

Later on the Thursday, Stubb, Kristersson and Gahr Støre, will visit the Norwegian Armed Forces Joint Operations Headquarters in Reitan, located 25 kilometers east of the town of Bodø. Defense Ministers Antti Häkkänen (Finland), Bjørn Arild Gram (Norway), and Pål Jonson (Sweden) will also participate in the meeting.

The Armed Forces Operational Headquarters is in many ways the heart of the Norwegian Armed Forces. From the operations room inside the mountain facility, FOH continuously monitors the activities of the Armed Forces and coordinates information from units around the country. The headquarters also coordinates, plans, and leads the Armed Forces’ national and international military operations.

Bodø is strategically located on the coast to the Norwegian Sea. Photo: Thomas Nilsen

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