Leaders of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) met in Helsinki on Thursday (26 March), reaffirming their commitment to European security, enhanced support for Ukraine, and coordinated pressure on Russia.
The summit focused on strengthening regional deterrence, addressing emerging threats, and deepening operational cooperation across Northern Europe and adjacent regions.
The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a UK-led multinational military partnership made up of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK.
It focuses on collective defence, crisis response, and regional security across the Arctic, Baltic Sea, and North Atlantic, enabling participating states to coordinate military activity, share intelligence, and respond to emerging threats, including hybrid warfare and sub-threshold challenges.
Key developments include:
• Expanded JEF–Ukraine Enhanced Partnership, including Ukrainian participation in JEF LION military exercises later in 2026.
• Increased focus on drone detection and interception capabilities amid rising unmanned aerial vehicle incidents.
• Enhanced maritime security cooperation, reflecting risks to global trade routes highlighted by Middle East instability.
• Greater alignment with NATO planning to reinforce the alliance’s northern flank and improve crisis response coordination.
Leaders also emphasised the JEF’s evolving role in the Arctic, Baltic Sea, and North Atlantic, alongside efforts to counter hybrid threats, including activities linked to Russia.
ℹ️ GOV. UK
Follow on social media TikTok@tut0ughInstagram@tut0ugh Threads@tut0ugh X@tut0ugh YouTube@tut0ugh
tut0ugh 