At the meeting, they expressed support for Estonia and Finland in relation to the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline and the communication cable. “The countries participating in the JEF, including the United Kingdom, which is the coalition’s framework country, attach great importance to the protection of critical undersea infrastructure,” said Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. “The meeting confirmed the willingness to provide assistance to improve the security of critical infrastructure. The specific measures will be discussed in more detail by the defence ministers. The Finnish and Estonian investigative authorities are doing their utmost to find out as quickly as possible how the damage occurred,” she stressed.
In addition, the meeting focused on continued support for Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also taking part via video link. Kallas stressed that the war of attrition will not be won overnight, but with the help of the free world, the Ukrainians can defeat Russia. “Global challenges, military conflicts, and domestic concerns can make it difficult to maintain focus on helping Ukraine win. However, if our attention is diverted, developments may follow that are much more dangerous and costly, not only for Estonia, but for the entire North Baltic region and the wider transatlantic community,” the Estonian Prime Minister stressed.
Kallas said that European countries need to increase their defence capabilities and make real investments to do so. “It is concrete orders, not promises, that help the defence industry increase output. There is an opportunity for the Joint Expeditionary Force countries to lead by example. Estonia’s defence spending will rise to 3.2% of GDP next year and I call on all allies to increase defence investment. It is not easy, but it is necessary,” said Kallas.
The Joint Expeditionary Force is a UK-led defence cooperation format that also includes Estonia, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. In a joint statement adopted at the meeting, the leaders of the ten countries underline their support for Ukraine until victory and for President Zelenskyy’s peace plan. They also expressed their willingness to step up the fight against hybrid threats. The leaders condemned the HAMAS attack against Israel and stressed that Israel has every right to defend itself and its people in accordance with international law.
The Joint Expeditionary Force plays an important role in the deterrence and defence posture of the Baltic Sea region. In a crisis situation, the JEF’s primary role is to respond rapidly at sea, on land, and in the air in the Baltic Sea, the Far North, and Northern Europe. The meeting highlighted the JEF’s work on developing military options to respond rapidly to military threats and deter hostile activities, including the protection of critical infrastructure.
Joint statement by the leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force nations: https://www.government.se/statements/2023/10/jef-leaders-joint-statement/
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAYgft
