14 NATO countries and Finland develop joint air defense

Creates a common defense - without Sweden Finland 

 

Of: Anna Sjogren Published: Today 13.29 Updated: Less than 1 hour ago 

 

NEWS 

 

14 NATO countries and Finland must develop a joint air defense. 

 

Sweden is not part of the initiative because it has a transitional government. 

 

This is stated by Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist's press department. 

 

The news came on Thursday, the second day of the NATO summit in Brussels. 

 

14 NATO countries, together with Finland, have signed a so-called letter of intent to develop what goes by the name "European Shield Initiative". 

 

 "This commitment is even more important today, as we witness the reckless and indiscriminate missile attacks carried out by Russia in Ukraine, which are killing civilians and critical infrastructure," NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said in a statement on NATO's website (i ett uttalande på Natos hemsida). 

 

 

German anti-aircraft. Photo: Boevaya mashina 

 

Led by Germany 

 

The initiative is led by Germany and the goal is for the countries to jointly develop an air defense system with, among other things, missiles. 

 

"The new assets, within NATO fully interoperable and seamlessly integrated air and missile defenses, would increase our ability to defend the alliance from all air and missile threats," says Mircea Geoană. 

 

Sweden is not mentioned as part of the initiative. 

 

The 14 NATO countries included are Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania and the United Kingdom. 

 

 

NATO Summit in Brussels. Photo: Olivier Matthys / AP 

 

Peter Hultqvist talks to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. Photo: Olivier Matthys / AP