Defense chiefs of 10-nation Joint Expeditionary Force meet in Oslo

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Norway on Wednesday hosted a meeting of defense ministers from countries part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a British-led military coalition of northern European states.

According to a joint statement, issues related to the Russia-Ukraine war and other security challenges were on the agenda of the meeting held in the capital Oslo between the defense chiefs from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK.

They also discussed the future of the joint force to "ensure it continues to make an effective contribution to security and stability in its core region of the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea," the statement added.

The ministers also took part in a table-top exercise to practice the JEF's role in responding to an escalating crisis, including the relationship between the JEF and NATO, in such a scenario. Eight of the countries in the force are NATO members, while Finland and Sweden are not, though these two countries formally applied to join the alliance last month.

Welcoming the two Nordic countries' applications, the JEF members vowed to "stand shoulder-to-shoulder" with Finland and Sweden through their accession and cooperate with NATO allies to integrate both nations into the alliance "as soon as possible."

They also reaffirmed "the shared purpose and common resolve of the JEF to work together to enhance security and stability in northern Europe and be ready to respond to a wide range of contingencies, both in peacetime and at times of crisis and conflict; all in a way which is coherent with, and complementary to, the role of NATO."