NATO Northern Group ministers met in Poland to discuss security and NATO summit

The ministers from the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia discussed various security topics, including the training of Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighter jets.

"I wish to say for the first time publicly that we are advanced in talks to obtain Swedish early warning aircraft. We are conducting detailed negotiations. I hope they will succeed in short time," Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak was quoted as saying on Twitter.

"This way we strengthen resilience of Poland, but also of NATO's eastern flank," the minister added.

Poland has ramped up military spending since Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine in February last year, with the government pledging to double the size of the army and spend 4% of GDP on defence in 2023.

Defence ministers from northern European countries showed "great support" at a meeting in Poland for training Ukrainian pilots in flying F-16 fighter jets, Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Monday.

"Great support for the goal of training F-16 pilots for Ukraine," the minister said in a tweet, adding that Denmark is ready to play a central role.

The UK-initiated format also addressed Sweden's admission status, as the Nordic country may receive approval to join NATO at the Vilnius summit in July.

"Representatives have shared their national positions and expectations regarding the upcoming meeting, including the implementation of decisions adopted during the Madrid Summit in 2022. Northern Group states believe that the Vilnius Summit should enhance regional security through further strengthening of Allied deterrence and defence posture, facing current and future threat posed by Russia," says the press release issued after the meeting.

"The participants have discussed on the perception of threats and challenges to the security of the North-Eastern Europe. All parties have agreed that Moscow’s war of aggression against Ukraine has seriously transformed security environment."

"Russia’s aggressive posture constitutes a direct threat to the security, stability and the prosperity of the whole Euro-Atlantic area. Northern Group members share a common view that providing further military assistance to Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s illegal and brutal aggression is crucial," we read.

"Defence partnerships like the Northern Group are vital to tackle shared threats. As likeminded nations we are determined to continue our support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, for as long as it takes," said Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

"It was a pleasure to meet again with my friend and close defence partner Mariusz Błaszczak. For over 150 years we have enjoyed a close defence alliance with Poland and our ongoing cooperation is supporting security and stability across Europe," he added.