On 26 June 2023, the Prime Ministers and the Heads of Government of Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Åland Islands, Faroe Islands and Greenland met in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.
In a joint statement after the meeting, counties expressed their agreement on a variety of fields of cooperation. This includes joint economic, social and military cooperation in the Nordic region and the Euro-Atlantic Area.
Building on the inherent strengths of open, democratic societies, the leaders agreed to work collectively to advance democracy and human rights both online and offline, through mechanisms like the Freedom Online Coalition, and to better support and reform international institutions so that they work for all countries and all global citizens.
Canada and the Nordic countries will explore further opportunities to enhance collaboration regarding healthy oceans. The ocean is one of the main sources of the world's biodiversity and oceans provide quality nutrition and employment. Inland waters and the ocean can play a crucial role in transforming food systems with blue food and the consumption of fish having generally a lower environmental impact as stated in the latest Nordic Nutrition Recommendations.
Furthermore, the Nordic Prime Ministers discussed Nordic defense cooperation in light of Finland and Sweden joining NATO aiming to fully realize this potential. Their efforts will include strengthening defense capabilities and the enablement of allied operations in the Nordic region.
