Stockholm, Aug 31, SPA -- Norway and Sweden should consider closercooperation in defence including procurement of defence material, DPA QUOTED thedefence force chiefs of the Nordic neighbours as saying. The two defence chiefs outlined their case in a joint article anda report presented Friday to the defence ministers of both nations. "New challenges demand new means of cooperation," SupremeCommander of the Swedish Armed Forces Hakan Syren and Norway's Chiefof Defence Sverre Diesen said in the Stockholm daily Dagens Nyheter. "The globalization of security policy challenges combined withincreased technological costs mean that multinational cooperationwill in future become more important," the defence chiefs said. Norway is a member of the defence alliance NATO while Sweden isnot, although it cooperates with NATO within the Partnerhsip forPeace (PFP) framework. With the end of the Cold War, both countries have launched reformsof their defence forces and are revamping them to take on new tasks,including international peacekeeping missions. By cooperating, procurements of military material could be mademore effective and could include systems like submarines or tanks,the defence chiefs said. Other fields included coordinating training and exercises as wellas research and development. Benefits were likely over a 20-year perspective but also in thenear future, they said, adding that cooperation could complementdefence and security cooperation within NATO and the European Union. Further defence budget cuts were rumoured in the budget due to bepresented by the Swedish government next month. Syren earlier this week said in a television interview thatfurther defence cuts were not feasible in view of the tasks thedefence forces have to undertake. The suggested cooperation would however not include procurementsof jet fighters where Norway is seeking to replace its aging fleet ofF-16s. The Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen is one of three options theNorwegian Air Force is considering along with the US made JointStrike Fighter and the Eurofighter.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/478817