helsinki nordic countries agree monday step defense cooperation exchange air surveillance information worry russia increase military activity countries increase defense spend cooperation north atlantic treaty organization since russia annex crimea 2014 ... situation common concern nordic countries ... aim strengthen national defense find cooperation good address security concern finnish defence minister jussi niinisto tell news conference follow meet swedish danish norwegian counterparts representative iceland say agreement exchange air surveillance data would contribute positively situational awareness well flight safety nordic countries accuse russia repeatedly violate airspace past years countries also agree cooperate procurement say plan use common nordic combat uniform see aggressive russia build force renew materials new missiles kaliningrad ... new picture part world say danish defence minister claus hjort frederiksen kaliningrad lie poland lithuania baltic sea minister say russia pose current threat baltic sea region zone heighten tensions moscow west russia increase military capability baltic enclave kaliningrad criticize nato station anti-missile shield eastern europe norway denmark iceland nato members sweden finland share 833 mile 1,340 km border russia remain militarily non-aligned finland say last week plan large-scale military drill nordics unite state ally early 2020. minister meet helsinki tuesday northern group include britain netherlands germany poland baltic state u.s. defence secretary jim mattis also join meet nordic state step defense cooperation russia worry