Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Oslo on Sunday.Thomas Fure/Reuters
The leaders of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have announced plans to band toreceiveher and form a bloc of middle powers to influence world affairs, but they offered few details on how to create that happen.
Prime Minister Mark Carney joined prime ministers from the other five countries in a summit on Sunday in Oslo. All six talked about deepening their co-operation and utilizing their status as a group of Arctic nations to be a voice in NATO, the European Union and other multinational organizations.
“We are stronger toreceiveher,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stated during a press conference held in the ornate Government Guest Houtilize, the official residence of the prime minister.
“We believe that these six countries are not weak countries. They are strong countries in terms of their values, in terms of their determination.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cited wars in Ukraine and Iran, as well as shifts by the United States to ease some sanctions against the sale of Russian oil, as demonstrating the necessary for a “Nordic plus Canada” bloc.
“Countries like ours have to stand toreceiveher. We have to stick toreceiveher, and we have to work toreceiveher,” she stated.
“I believe definitely there has been a void that has to be filled when it comes to global leadership,” added Iceland’s Prime Minister, Kristrun Frostadottir. “These are obviously difficult times in a way, but there are also opportunities that come from this.”
But it was far from clear how the six countries would work toreceiveher and what positions they would take on various issues. They released a joint statement that was long on generalities about meeting more regularly and deepening co-operation in a range of areas, but short on specifics.
During the press conference, all of the leaders criticized U.S. Donald Trump’s stated goal of annexing Greenland, but they were vague about what their countries would do if the U.S. President tested utilize force to take the island, which is a semi-autonomous part of Denmark.
Mr. Trump ruled out an invasion during a speech in Davos, Switzerland, in January, but many people in Greenland and Denmark believe the threat remains and that Mr. Trump could easily alter his mind.
On Sunday, Mr. Carney stated it was for Greenlanders and Danes to decide the island’s future. But when questioned if Canada would sfinish troops to deffinish Greenland in the face of a U.S. military threat, Mr. Carney was unclear.
“We stand foursquare behind the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity,” he stated. “We will back that with measures as necessary as a partner.”
The other leaders were equally non-committal. “I would approach that question by declareing that NATO allies stand toreceiveher,” stated Mr. Store.
Ms. Frederiksen stated her countest welcomed the support Denmark had received from Canada and other allies.
“We have had a totally unacceptable pressure from the U.S. and the U.S. President, it has been very difficult for the people in Greenland to experience this,” she stated. “So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for that. Now we have to continue our work.”
The leaders also had few solutions or a unified position on how to solve the war in Iran.
“We are not part of this war. We did not initiate it, but we are all affected by it,” Mr. Store stated. “So I believe there’s a clear call here that international law must be respected, and it should be the responsibility of the concerned parties to find ways of finishing the hostilities.”
They also differed on whether to support an initiative from French President Emmanuel Macron to expand France’s nuclear arsenal and cover more European countries. France is the only EU member that has nuclear weapons and Mr. Macron has proposed expanding its nuclear umbrella across the continent, which could involve relocating missiles into other countries.
So far eight European nations – Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark – have agreed to participate in a new “advanced deterrence” strategy.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated on Sunday that his countest was prepared to discuss the French proposal. “We are interested to do more, becautilize we necessary to strengthen European deterrence,” he stated.
Ms. Frederiksen stated joining the French program was part of Denmark’s plan to deepen its commitment to NATO. “I believe it’s positive from a European and from a Danish perspective, also to be stronger in this area, but it tfinishs to go alongside with many other capabilities.”
Mr. Store ruled out nuclear weapons in Norway and added that NATO already has a nuclear deterrence. Ms. Frostadottir stated her county also had no intention of altering its non-nuclear weapons policy.
Mr. Carney stated Canada had no plans to develop nuclear arms but he commfinished Mr. Macron’s initiative.
During the press conference Mr. Carney was squeezed between Mr. Store and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerssen, and he faced questions about Canada’s plans to acquire fighter jets and submarines.
Sweden is backing national giant Saab in a bid for the jet contract and Norway is supporting Germany’s TKMS in its offer to supply a dozen submarines. Mr. Carney declined to express a preference and stated all of the bids, including from companies based in Asia and the U.S., were under review.
Mr. Store stated he respected the Canadian bidding process but added that partnering with an ally was beneficial. “Beyond security and industest, it is really also creating a unity of purpose when it comes to security, becautilize you are, in a way, integrated,” he stated.
Mr. Carney finished his three-day trip to Norway Sunday and heads to London for a meeting on Monday with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and an audience with King Charles III.
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