HELSINKI (Chatnewstv.com) Finnish Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen has called on Nordic countries to strengthen cooperation among civilian authorities to improve preparedness for crises and hybrid threats amid growing regional security concerns.
Speaking ahead of the Haga ministerial meeting in Helsinki on Thursday, Rantanen stressed that national security cannot rely solely on military capabilities.
“It is essential that civilian authorities and society as a whole are prepared to respond to various incidents and crises,” Rantanen said. “Military preparedness is a vital part of national security, but that alone is not enough. In addition to military defence, civilian authorities in particular are needed to protect the population, our infrastructure and the functioning of society.”
Ministers responsible for civil preparedness from Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland or their deputies gathered for the meeting, which focused on strengthening resilience and cooperation across the Nordic region.
Rantanen highlighted the critical roles of police, border control, rescue and intelligence services, which are often the first to respond to crises that may not involve direct military conflict but still threaten to disrupt society.
Drawing lessons from Ukraine’s experience, she said the war had demonstrated how internal security forces, such as police and rescue workers, play vital roles even near the front lines, protecting civilians, maintaining order, and saving lives amid bombardment.
“Cooperation with Ukraine is very important for the Nordic countries,” Rantanen added. “Together we will continue our strong support for Ukraine. We have a lot to learn from Ukraine, especially about the resilience of civil society, civil preparedness, rescue services and civil-military cooperation.”
Finland has provided Ukraine with civilian material assistance and, in May, launched an international civil defence coalition with Kyiv aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s civil defence capacity through new shelters and protection infrastructure.
Rantanen also emphasized the importance of advancing shared Nordic priorities within NATO and the European Union, noting that the recent expansion of NATO membership across the Nordic region has deepened cooperation.
The Haga cooperation, launched in 2009 at Sweden’s Haga Palace, is a political framework among the five Nordic countries to strengthen civil preparedness and societal resilience. Finland currently holds the chairmanship of the cooperation, with Denmark set to take over next year.
