Military corridor strengthens NATO's Northern defence
Three Northern European countries – Finland, Sweden, and Norway – agreed to establish a military transport corridor to move NATO soldiers and equipment quickly. The corridor will traverse the northern territories of the three countries and enable the rapid deployment of troops from Norwegian ports to Finland's eastern border "in the event of a major land war."
9:23 AM EDT, June 21, 2024
The prime ministers of Norway and Sweden, along with the president of Finland, announced the corridor's approval during a joint press conference.
Rapid deployment of troops in case of an attack by Russia
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that the corridor would run through the northern territories of the three countries and "enable rapid deployment of troops from Norwegian ports to Finland's eastern border."
"The fact that Norway, Sweden, and Finland are now part of NATO is good for the security of Norway, the Nordic countries, and their allies. We used to think along the north-south axis; now we think more along the west-east axis," added Støre. He emphasized that since all three countries are now part of NATO, they "can cooperate in the field of defense on a completely different level."
Reports from "The Telegraph" previously indicated that NATO countries are developing numerous "land corridors" to transfer American soldiers and armored vehicles to the frontline in the event of a "major land war" between Europe and Russia.
The plan involves American soldiers landing at one of five European ports and being sent along pre-planned logistical routes to repel a potential attack from Moscow. NATO is also considering ports in Northern Europe, including those in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, as landing sites for American troops.
Norway is one of NATO's founding countries. Finland joined the alliance in April 2023, and Sweden in March 2024. These countries abandoned their neutral status in connection with Russia's war with Ukraine.
Russian bases emptied
The day before, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen called for preparation for a potential attack from Russia in the form of hybrid attacks.
"At the same time, the bases of the Russian Armed Forces near the border with Finland have significantly emptied," the Finnish publication Yle notes. According to Finnish intelligence, about 80% of the equipment and soldiers from Russian bases near the border with Finland have been redirected to the war in Ukraine, leaving only instructors at the facilities.
This was also confirmed by Norwegian intelligence. Additionally, Norwegian intelligence estimates that Russia will need three to five years to restore its armed forces' combat capability after the war in Ukraine ends.
