Joint Expeditionary Force nations reiterate strong commitment to Ukraine, regional security

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Members of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) on Tuesday reiterated their "unwavering and longstanding support" for Ukraine, underscoring that Russia is the "most significant, direct, and long-term threat" to the security in the Euro-Atlantic area.

During the two-day summit in the Estonian capital Tallinn, the leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK, addressed a range of security threats and challenges affecting the nations, with Russia’s war on Ukraine since February 2022 remaining their "foremost concern."

In a joint statement after the talks, the JEF leaders pointed out threats and challenges in the Baltic Sea region, the North Atlantic, and the High North and said that this showed "Russia is the most significant, direct, and long-term threat to the security, peace, and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area."

"We reiterate that Ukraine’s victory is vital to all our security and the preservation of rules-based international order," added the statement, calling on third countries, including North Korea, Belarus, Iran, and China, "to cease offering the support Moscow."

The JEF represents a military collaboration initiative led by the UK, bringing together the 10 northern European nations.

Reaffirming their "unwavering and longstanding support" for a sovereign Ukraine, they also noted that the JEF’s commitment to "Ukraine’s interoperability with NATO is steadfast."

In the statement, the leaders urged other allies and partners to continue or increase their military support for Kyiv as long as is required until Ukraine prevails.

"We pledge to further expand our training and equipment offer to Ukraine, in order to better support Ukraine’s efforts to mobilise additional forces," it added.

They also pointed out the importance of the transatlantic bond as "front and centre for our collective security," expressing commitment to solidarity, and burden-sharing.

"We look forward to working closely with the incoming U.S. administration on our shared security and defence interests, which are challenged and threatened by adversarial powers at an unprecedented scale,” it noted.

The first summit of the JEF leaders was held virtually on Feb. 25, 2022, days after the Russian war on Ukraine began.