Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and Poland have signed a framework arrangement for setting the scope for naval mines cooperation (NMC).
Naval mines cooperation aims to strengthen the collective defence and explore practical opportunities for cooperation in the procurement, logistics and operation of naval mine weapon systems.
To remind, in July 2024, the Defense Ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Finland signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on naval mines cooperation in Baltic Sea.
This new arrangement will enable joint procurements, navy-navy cooperation, logistics and life cycle management, exercises and training, exchange of information and development of the naval mine weapon systems.
A joint procurement of the Blocker Influence Sea Mine System under Finland’s leadership is also planned within the NMC framework. The joint procurement is being prepared by Denmark, Finland, Germany, Lithuania and Norway.
“Cooperation around the naval mine warfare is in the interest of Finland and our allies operating in and around the Baltic Sea. We have recognised that by sharing our own know-how, we will strengthen our allies, but our own defence as well,” said Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen .
“Finnish industry has world class products and know-how that interests our allies. Exploring opportunities for joint procurement is one possible area of cooperation, and we have been preparing a joint procurement of Blocker Sea Mines already.”
This effort builds upon existing European mine warfare programs such as the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program and aligns with NATO and EU defence goals to enhance collective maritime security and technological sovereignty. Recently, Oostende, the first mine countermeasures vessel in the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program intended for the Belgian Navy, completed sea trials with Exail’s mine hunting unmanned surface vessel (USV).