Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force Unite in Important Statement – 2nd October 2026

The Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and their allies convened at Keflavik Air Base in Iceland on 2nd October to enhance the JEF’s role as a fundamental component of European and Euro-Atlantic security. Following the directives established during the Helsinki Summit in March, the Ministers committed to taking further action on key priorities outlined for the JEF.

Strengthening Support for Ukraine

The JEF Nations have demonstrated unwavering support for Ukraine through the ambitious JEF-Ukraine Enhanced Partnership, which was initiated in 2025 to foster deeper cooperation and bolster collective security. During the meeting, Defence Minister Khamara participated virtually alongside JEF counterparts to celebrate the ongoing success of this partnership. Notably, this year marked the first instance of Ukraine’s involvement in the JEF’s flagship Lion Protector exercise. Ukrainian mine countermeasure vessels operated alongside JEF forces, thereby enhancing interoperability and allowing the JEF to draw from Ukraine’s exceptional operational experience in modern warfare. The Defence Ministers reiterated their commitment to the Partnership and agreed to expand Ukraine’s participation in JEF activities.

Focusing on the Arctic and Northern Regions

The Defence Ministers reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea, High North, and North Atlantic as the JEF’s core areas of interest. With Canadian Defence Minister McGuinty in attendance, they explored avenues for deepening collaboration between the JEF and Canada, acknowledged Canada’s application to join the Framework, and progressed towards a joint recommendation for JEF Leaders regarding Canadian membership. Additionally, the Ministers established a common framework for engaging with partners and set overarching policy directions for the JEF.

Enhancing Deterrence and Peacetime Activities

An update was provided on the Lion Protector series, which is being conducted across Iceland and Norway this autumn, with its synchronisation alongside the UK’s Carrier Strike Group being welcomed by the Ministers. They reviewed the JEF’s five-year programme of activities and commended ongoing efforts to align JEF operations with NATO’s regional strategies. The discussions also touched upon Russia’s hybrid activities targeting JEF nations and other NATO Allies, with a consensus reached to continue developing unified responses via JEF mechanisms. The Ministers expressed determination to enhance both individual and collective preparedness against such threats while reaffirming their support for Ukraine. They clarified that JEF nations do not seek confrontation and pose no threat to Russia, yet they stand ready to defend themselves if necessary.

Advancing Defence Industrial Cooperation

The Ministers evaluated progress in defence industrial collaboration, following two meetings of JEF National Armaments Directors since the Ankara Summit. They expressed satisfaction with the pace of identifying practical collaboration opportunities and emphasised the need for delivering tangible outcomes. Reaffirming the importance of interoperability, capability innovation, and reinforcing shared industrial resilience, the Ministers looked forward to receiving concrete proposals ahead of their next gathering. The Single Services are continuing to deepen military engagement within the JEF, particularly through initiatives like the Northern Navies concept, in support of the JEF’s comprehensive exercise plan.

Contributing to Euro-Atlantic Security

In conclusion, the Ministers reiterated the JEF’s essential role in fostering a stronger Europe within a robust NATO framework. They highlighted the unique position of the JEF in responding to emerging challenges beneath the threshold of Article V, providing agile and credible solutions while augmenting NATO’s deterrence and defence posture. They directed further efforts to illustrate the JEF’s contributions to Euro-Atlantic security, ensuring the Framework adapts to meet the evolving demands of collective security.

The Ministers expressed their gratitude to Iceland for hosting the upcoming JEF Leaders’ Summit in Reykjavik next spring.