India and the Nordic countries on Tuesday established a strategic partnership for green technology and innovation to deepen cooperation in areas ranging from energy security to digital infrastructure, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of the five Nordic countries stressing the importance of relations based on trust in an era of geopolitical turmoil and uncertainty.
Modi joined his counterparts from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden at the third India-North India summit in Oslo during the penultimate leg of a five-nation tour. The focus was on combining India’s size and talents with the individual strengths of the Nordic countries in areas such as renewable energy, digitalisation, defence, maritime security and shipping.
About green technology
The new strategic partnership for green technology and innovation, announced at the conclusion of the summit, will complement India’s similar partnerships with Denmark and Norway, drive cooperation on the blue economy and digital infrastructure, and open new avenues for cooperation on climate action, energy security and water management.
In a joint media interaction with Nordic leaders, Modi said the partnership seeks to combine India’s scale and Iceland’s geothermal and fisheries expertise, Norway’s blue economy and Arctic expertise, and the maritime and sustainability expertise of all Nordic countries to help create a better future for the world.
Defense
The partnership will also help bring together Indian talent with advanced manufacturing and defense capabilities in Sweden, communications and digital technologies in Finland, and cybersecurity and health technologies in Denmark to develop reliable solutions.
Modi referred to the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) signed by India and the European Free Trade Association, which includes Iceland and Norway, and the proposed free trade agreement with the European Union, which includes Denmark, Sweden and Finland. “With these ambitious trade agreements, we are ushering in a new golden era in India-Nordic relations,” he said.
Amid global tensions and conflicts, India and the Nordic countries will continue to advocate for a rules-based global order, he added. “Whether it is Ukraine or West Asia, we will continue to support peace efforts and rapid end to conflicts,” he said in Hindi.
What did the prime ministers say?
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Sture, who hosted the summit after a gap of four years, stressed the need for greater cooperation between democracies in an unpredictable world.
Storr said the leaders discussed global security, economic cooperation and growing geopolitical challenges, and “focused on upholding international law, a rules-based order in need of reforms and progress, and… the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and finding a diplomatic way to resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.”
Finnish Prime Minister Petri Urbo stressed the need for partnerships built on trust, mutual respect and shared democratic values in a world characterized by geopolitical shifts and uncertainty, while Danish Acting Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called for greater cooperation between India and the Nordic countries to navigate a rapidly changing world.
“The Nordic countries, when united, become a middle power,” she said. “Working with one of the greatest powers on…ideas and values can bring stability, prosperity and unity in a world that is changing rapidly and, unfortunately, not in the right direction.”
Frederiksen said the discussions also focused on defending democracy, managing artificial intelligence and new technologies, and strengthening defense and security cooperation.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the six nations were committed to their focus on innovation, scale and long-term trusted relationships, while Icelandic Prime Minister Kristron Frostadóttir said India and the Nordic countries could demonstrate how diverse nations can cooperate with “respect between nations in dialogue and trade”.
Middle East Airlines statement
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and the Nordic countries have agreed to leverage TEPA and the proposed EU free trade agreement to strengthen trade, technology and investment ties, and launch joint climate initiatives that combine Nordic innovation with India’s scale.
The two sides also agreed to deepen cooperation in the Arctic, especially in polar research and environmental issues, and launch joint projects in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and next-generation communications technologies such as 6G.
They also agreed to promote a free, open and peaceful Indo-Pacific region, enhance the mobility of students and professionals, and expand defense industrial cooperation, including through 100% foreign direct investment provided to Nordic companies in India’s defense industrial corridors.
Despite the geographical distance between the two sides, Modi noted that bilateral trade has increased four-fold in the last decade, while Nordic investments in India have risen by about 200% during the same period.
He said: “We agree that reforming multilateral institutions is necessary and urgent, and with regard to terrorism, we have a clear and unified position – no compromise and no double standards.”
Modi left for Italy, the last leg of his tour, shortly after the summit concluded.
