Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian defence property cooperation agreement strengthens NATO allied forces’ host nation support
Defence Properties Finland has entered into cooperation agreement with the organisations responsible for Swedish and Norwegian defence properties. The agreement intensifies cooperation especially in international operations and in Nato allied forces’ host nation support.
Infrastructure, real estate and construction supporting national defence are a key component of defence capabilities, both in terms of national defence and the ability to act as a good host nation for NATO allied forces. It is anticipated that Finland, Sweden and Norway will all be part of the same NATO regional command structure. Exercises and military exercises by allied forces will cross national boundaries, and the planning of allied host nation operations will be seen as part of the larger picture.
In order to strengthen regional cooperation, the actors responsible for real estate and construction management of the Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian defence forces have signed a letter of intent on closer cooperation. Defence Properties Finland, the Swedish Fortifications Agency (Fortifikationsverket) and the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency (Forsvarsbygg) will share their expertise and work together on planning processes to improve host nation support to NATO allies. The letter of intent also covers closer cooperation in defence sector infrastructure development, environmental, energy and sustainable development issues, and procurement processes.
The letter of intent was signed by Matias Warsta, CEO of Defence Properties Finland, Maria Bredberg-Petterson, Director General of the Swedish Fortifications Agency, and Thorbjørn Thoresen, Director General of the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency.
“There is a good basis for cooperation over the longer term. The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO and the exceptionally high investments in national defence infrastructure in all three countries have raised the importance of cooperation to a new level,” says Matias Warsta.
The management of defence administration properties in all three countries is similarly centralised on an organisation that is responsible for the facilities of the defence forces, their maintenance and services related to the facilities, as well as the planning and construction of the facilities.
Defence Properties Finland, the Swedish Fortifications Agency and the Norwegian Defence Estates Agency are also part of the wider Nordic-Baltic Defence Estates network, which includes all Nordic countries, except Iceland, and all Baltic countries. The new trilateral letter of intent complements existing cooperation and deepens the countries’ collaboration.
Defence Properties Finland is part of Senate Group, which is responsible for the Finnish government’s real estate. Defence Properties Finland began operations in 2021 as a subsidiary unincorporated state enterprise of Senate Properties and is responsible for Finnish Defence Administration properties, their maintenance and the provision of services in all security situations.
More information:
Matias Warsta, CEO of Defence Properties Finland, tel. +358 294 831 000
