Finnish Defense Minister says Sweden alliance possible

Finnish Defense Minister Carl Haglund said Finland and Sweden could have a joint navy and air force within five years.

He made the remarks in an interview published by the Swedish language daily Hufvudstadsbladet Saturday, the Finnish Independence Day, Xinhua reported.

Haglund said that such cooperation would require a formal defence alliance between Finland and Sweden, and it should be part of the programme of the next Finnish government taking office after the 2015 general election.

He gave the Netherlands and Belgium as an example of European countries that have amalgamated their naval forces.

Haglund said that through Finno-Swedish co-operation, Finland would have access to submarines.

Defence co-operation between Finland and Sweden has come up increasingly in public statements in both countries. The commander of the Swedish Defense Forces Sverker Goranson suggested in November that there would be a joint command structure in the Baltic Sea by 2023.