Days after Sweden became NATO’s 32nd Ally, Finnish and Swedish armoured units crossed into Norway as part of exercise Nordic Response 24.
Synopsis
Finnish Army tanks and Swedish Army mechanised infantry have charged into Norway for exercise Nordic Response 2024, showing NATO’s ability to rapidly move forces across Allied borders.
During a demonstration for the media, Finnish Leopard 2 tanks and Swedish CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles crossed from Finland into Norway at Kivilompolo, roughly 140 kilometres south of Alta, where NATO forces have massed for the exercise.
The crossing came days after Sweden officially joined NATO, becoming the Alliance’s 32nd member.
The Finnish and Swedish units will now move north, locking their simulated adversary in a pincer manoeuvre as Allied amphibious units push south from Alta.
Exercise Nordic Response gathers 20,000 troops from 13 NATO Allies in northern Norway to train together in the harsh arctic environment. It’s part of Steadfast Defender 2024, NATO’s biggest exercise in decades.
Footage includes shots of Finnish and Swedish units during the demonstration, as well as interviews with Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson and Finnish Army Chief of Staff Major General Jukka Jokinen.
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---SHOTLIST—
(00:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – FINNISH LEOPARD 2 TANKS MOVING UP ROAD INTO NORWAY, FIRING ON SIMULATED ENEMY
(00:34) WIDE SHOT – SWEDISH ARMY INFANTRY FIRING FROM BEHIND COVER WITH CV-90 INFANTRY FIGHTING VEHICLE SUPPORTING
(00:40) VARIOUS SHOTS – SWEDISH INFANTRY AT MEDIA DAY
(00:52) MEDIUM SHOT – NORWEGIAN INFANTRY AT MEDIA DAY
(00:59) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson
“It feels very good to be part of the Alliance because it makes Sweden safer and NATO stronger. It’s something I’ve personally worked for for decades, and I’m very glad to see it happening. It feels very natural to be here in the northern part of Finland, because Sweden, Finland and of course Norway are cooperating very extensively here as well, to keep our unique assets and capabilities, and also to assure that NATO’s deterrence and defence is strong.”
(01:29) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson
“Well, I think we have assets and capabilities that can make NATO stronger. I think we have unique competence when it comes to operating on the Baltic Sea. We operate our submarines. We have surface combatants. We are operating in the air. The other area I would point out which is of importance is this, we have this sub-arctic capabilities, and I think with Sweden, Finland and Norway now cooperating so closely, we’re going to keep the Alliance stronger here up north as well. We also have a unique defence industrial base. There’s no other country of 10 million people who can produce fighter jets and submarines. And we think we can also contribute to the NATO when it comes to innovation, we’re also eager now to join DIANA [Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic] and NATO investment fund.”
(02:15) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Finnish Army Chief of Staff Major General Jukka Jokinen
“I think now with Sweden as part of the NATO, the whole Nordic countries here up north are able to provide the whole competence, whole, one secured area inside of the Alliance, so that is very important. So all the cooperation, all the planning, executing of the orders will be much easier. So I’m sure that this is a great benefit for the whole NATO.”
(02:46) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Finnish Army Chief of Staff Major General Jukka Jokinen
“This is a common operation. This is the troops from the different nations, and you were also able to see that we are really able to fight together. And that is a great thing. And that is what NATO is, stronger together.”
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