On Thursday and Friday, the leaders of the ten member states of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) gathered in Oslo for summit. At a press conference Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) said that the countries have agreed, among other things,: inviting Ukraine to a strengthened partnership with joint exercises, training and learning. Agree to strengthen cooperation to increase the ability to deterrence and better maritime security. In particular, the focus is on Russia’s so -called “shadow fleet”. Collaboration on strengthening the defense sector. This is the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a security cooperation between ten northern European countries. The cooperation includes the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. The proposal to establish the force was presented by the British defense in 2012. Created in 2014 and will serve as a supplement to broader cooperation within NATO. The leaders are gathered in Oslo for their annual summit. They will discuss the situation in Europe and regional cooperation on security challenges. The war in Ukraine is central to the summit. Source: NTB, Joint Expeditionary Force On Thursday night, the leaders of the JEF countries discussed a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine with both US President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. One of the top executives who participated was Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) in the face of the other leaders of the JEF countries in Oslo on Friday. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is on video link. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB change in US rhetoric Stubb tells news that when he met US President Donald Trump to play golf, the war in Ukraine was a theme. You have played golf with President Trump. Are you in the process of a golf diplomacy? – Golf diplomacy is good because then you have time to spend with, for example, President Trump. The biggest reason is that it is social and it is nice. You build trust. Maybe he calls you in a few days, not to talk about golf, but to talk about war in Ukraine for example. President Donald Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb played golf at Trump’s golf facility in Palm Beach, Florida in March. Photo :. @realdonaldtrump on Truth Social During the seven hours Stubb and Trump spent together, the two leaders talked about how those countries can work together. “I had the opportunity to give messages about Russia and our analysis of Russia, war in Ukraine and some tariffs,” says Stubb. – But you do not want to be with a person for seven hours under a social situation, who just pumps on hard information. So this was a good beginning, he says. Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes in a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Photo: Gunnar Bratthammer / news During the meeting, Stubb said Trump cannot rely on Russian President Vladimir Putin. – But there is not just one case that applies, he also sees that you cannot trust Putin. That is why we now see a change in US rhetoric, whether there are ceasefire or sanctions, then we are heading for the right team. What leads to the long races, we do not know, says Stubb. He says that small countries such as Finland and Norway can influence the major countries, such as France, the United Kingdom and Germany, and contribute when needed. He does not know when a peace solution will come into place, but points out that since Trump became president, he has put a lot of pressure and changed the dynamics of the negotiations. Stubb has faith in a peace solution between Ukraine and Russia, but explains that they cannot be peace brokers between the two parties, because they have already declared support for Ukraine. – But what we can do is convey information, help and support in diplomatic negotiations. But, for example, Finland should begin to host peace negotiations in Helsinki, it is a bit old -fashioned. You have to go several times and play golf with Trump, do you think? – We hope so. It is nice sometimes to spend time on a golf course, he says. Important with preparation and capacity Stubb describes JEF as a flexible small organization, which can act quickly, even in situations that affect collective defense in NATO. – It’s about working practically together, especially in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea, says Stubb. Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes that the JEF countries should work together in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea. Photo: Gunnar Bratthammer / news Finland and the Baltic countries have had several attacks against them lately. Stubb says that hybrid attacks cannot be stopped, but that the most important thing is to be prepared and have the capacity to handle them. – There are two things we should do. The first is that we react to the so -called shadow fleet, where we have sanctions. The second is that we have the capacity to quickly repair underwater infrastructure, says Stubb. – The last point is that the difference between war and peace is a bit diffuse, and we see that in hybrid operations, he says. Think it is not NATO-rival Håkon Lunde Saxi is a professor at the Defense Staff School, including focusing on Norwegian and Northern European defense policy. Håkon Lunde Saxi at the Defense Staff School believes the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a useful addition to NATO.FOTO: Ismail Burak Akkan / NRKHåkon Lunde Saxi at the Defense Staff School believes the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a useful supplement to NATO. Photo: Ismail Burak Akkan / news Saxi is not worried that what the JEF countries will challenge NATO, or weaken the security policy tape to the United States. On the contrary. And he points out that the United States has long demanded that Europe take more responsibility for its own security. “Americans have to do less, and it costs them less to be in NATO,” he says. Donald Trump in the oval office on Thursday. On the same day he spoke to Støre and the other leaders of the JEF countries on the phone. Photo: Leah Millis / Reuters / NTB It can mitigate the criticism of NATO in the United States, says Saxi. – The British and Northern Europeans will probably think to a greater extent so that we will take greater responsibility for our own safety, also as an instrument to preserve the North Atlantic Alliance with the United States. Interested in foreign? Hear the Foreign Editors’ podcast: Published 09.05.2025, at. 20.39 Updated 09.05.2025, at. 20.53
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