Canada, Nordic countries vow closer collaboration as middle-power bloc

The leaders of Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have announced plans to band together and form a bloc of middle powers to influence world affairs, but they offered few details on how they would make that happen.

Prime Minister Mark Carney joined prime ministers from the other five countries in a summit on Sunday in Oslo. All six talked about deepening their co-operation and using their status as a group of Arctic countries to be a voice in NATO, the European Union and other multinational organizations.

“We are stronger together,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said during a press conference held in the ornate Government Guest House, the official residence of the prime minister. ---More...

REPORTER: "What specific actions can you as 'middle powers' take to defend each other against threats to your nations' self-determination?

PM CARNEY: "I think that given a sense of the spirit of the discussion and how we move forward... this is a very positive discussion." pic.twitter.com/YgBScAqQz8

— Juno News (@junonewscom)March 16, 2026

REPORTER: "What specific actions can you as 'middle powers' take to defend each other against threats to your nations' self-determination?

PM CARNEY: "I think that given a sense of the spirit of the discussion and how we move forward... this is a very positive discussion."