Finland Times

The council of defence ministers of the Nordic countries at a meeting held in Helsinki discussed various aspects of such cooperation, although no specific decision was taken place in this regard, meeting sources said.

“We have discussed about the possibility for widening air space surveillance in the Arctic region,” The Finnish defence minister, Carl Haglund said at a press conference after the meeting, adding the issue was yet to finalise.

Pointing out the participation of Finland and Sweden to the airspace surveillance of Iceland as part of a Norwegian deployment in 2014, the Finnish defense minister said that such initiatives indicated possibility for widening air space surveillance in Arctic region.

He said that it is important to have an understanding with both Nordic countries and Arctic council state members in this regard.

Terming the initiative as massive project, the meeting included air refuelling, rescue helicopters and night surveillance as a part of air surveillance activities, said Haglund.

Finland will participate in training activities relating to the airspace surveillance of Iceland as part of a Norwegian deployment in 2014. and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy already finalized the decision.