Page 27 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

In order to address these challenges, taking a coherent approach and cooperating closely at the
national and international level are essential. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence,
and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security have therefore together decided to intensify efforts in
this area, and Norway’s participation in the new European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid
Threats is part of this. Norway will cooperate with allies and close partners at the Centre, with a view
to gaining a better understanding of hybrid threats, and finding better ways of dealing with them.
NATO and the EU have also established cooperation in this area.

The aims of the centre are to increase our understanding of hybrid threats, of vulnerabilities that can be
exploited in hybrid operations, and of how the resilience of societies can be improved.

https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/norway-to-join-international-centre-for-countering-hybrid-
threats/id2564689/

In short, the Finnish government is enhancing regional cooperation to deal with a core challenge from a real
world power player willing to use military intervention as a normal tool of political power within the European
continent.

Exercise Aurora 17: Sweden Focuses on Deterrence
2017-09-26 Aurora 17 is the largest Swedish exercise in more than 20 years, and is intended to exercise
Sweden’s defense capability against a larger, sophisticated opponent.

According to the Swedish Ministry of Defence:

In order to increase military capabilities, Swedish Armed Forces will conduct Exercise Aurora 17 – a national
exercise that will build a stronger defence and increase the overall capability to face an attack on Sweden.
The overarching mission of the Swedish Armed Forces is to defend the country´s interests, our freedom and the
right to live the way of our choice.

Deterrence lies at the core of a strong defence, one that rises to all threats and overcomes all challenges. It is
designed to deter potential attackers, and force them to carefully consider the risks of attacking our country.

For a deterrent to be effective, it needs to be credible and visible. Through frequent and extensive training and
exercise, especially with other defence forces, Sweden is strengthening its deterrence effect and makes it more
credible.

Aurora 17 will be conducted in the air, on land and at sea. Units from all over Sweden will be involved, but the
main exercise areas will be the Mälardalen and Stockholm areas, on and around Gotland, and the Gothenburg
area.

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