The rising fear of an invasion by revanchist Russia has compelled the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland to band more firmly together in a de facto military alliance whose defense spending is increasing by leaps and bounds.

The latest manifestation of this military alliance was the affirmation of the "Nordic Defense Materiel Agreement" (NDMA). NDMA was signed by the four Nordic states in 2015.

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NDMA aims to strengthen collective security in the Nordic region and bolster the joint role played by Nordic states in the defense of their individual and collective territories. It covers joint weapons systems development and common equipment procurement programs.

These four countries see NDMA as a potential cost-savings tool, particularly where it relates to overlaps in equipment and weapons systems, and where significant savings can be made through collective rather than single-nation procurement deals.  

Bolstering the agreement comes at a time when Nordic governments are facing relentless threats of invasion by Russia, whose leaders are determined to resurrect the defunct Soviet empire by once again subjugating the countries that were once part of the Warsaw Pact.

Worse, however, is Moscow's lunatic ambition of making war on NATO to attain this aim despite its military inferiority.

Moscow's bluster and increased defense spending has compelled the Nordic states to also boost their defense budgets. Norway and Sweden are boosting their defense outlays with new funding largely directed at bolstering the acquisition of more military hardware. 

NDMA will pave the way for an agreed "Pan-Nordic Initiative" to create a political and legal framework for expanding and deepening defense materiel procurement cooperation.

NDMA is being implemented within the framework of the European Union Defense and Security Procurement Directive and in conjunction with the EU Intra-Community Transfer Directive for defense-related products. 

Responsibility for implementing the NDMA is the responsibility of the Nordic Defense Cooperation, the interstate organization whose job is to develop stronger, cross-border collaboration between the five Nordic countries, including Iceland which isn't included in NDMA because it doesn't have a standing army and is the only NATO member country in this situation.

TagsNordic countries, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Nordic Defense Materiel Agreement, NDMA, Russia, NATO