Baltics invited to join NORDEFCO

TALLINN - The Baltic States have been officially invited to join Scandinavian defense organization NORDEFCO.

The invitation was given following a two-day meeting of Nordic army leaders in Tallinn.

"We are linked to the Nordic states through culture and history, we understand each other well and share the same values," Estonian chief of staff Lieutenant General Ants Laaneots told reporters.

Founded in November 2009, NORDEFCO - short for Nordic Defence Cooperation - is aimed at strengthening "the Participants’ national defence, explore common synergies and facilitate efficient common solutions."

"The head of the Swedish defence forces, General Sverker Goeranson, presented the Baltic states with an invitation to join NORDEFCO in behalf of all the chiefs of the Nordic defence forces," an Estonian military spokesman told AFP.

NORDEFCO is a defense superstructure which since mid-2010 has combined the duties of a former three-tier system. It focuses on cooperation in five different areas - strategic development, capabilities, human resources and education, training and excercises, and operations.