The report was presented during the Wasa Future Festival on 13 August 2026.
The study was produced by Risk Intelligence A/S on behalf of the Kvarken Council EGTC within the framework of the FLINC project, MidtSkandia and the Fellesrådet for Trøndelag Jämtland Härjedalen. Robin Häggblom, Senior Advisor & Project Manager at Risk Intelligence, presented the results.
Strategic location – but with clear limitations
The study area extends from the Kvarken region, including Central Finland, through Jämtland, Härjedalen, Västernorrland and Västerbotten in Sweden to Trøndelag and Helgeland in Norway.
The analysis is based on open, non-classified sources as well as interviews with 37 people in Finland, Sweden and Norway, including representatives from the transport sector, authorities, defence, research and regional development.
The region has several strategic advantages, such as east-west corridors, ports on the Arctic, Atlantic and Gulf of Bothnia, railways, roads and airports. However, when the entire transport chain is examined, clear limitations also emerge.
The most critical bottlenecks are often found where goods and equipment must change modes of transport. Connections between ports, roads and railways have limited capacity in several locations. There is also a shortage of storage, staging and reloading areas. Single-track railways are vulnerable, while redundancy in cross-border road and rail connections is insufficient.
Modern tanks and other heavy vehicles can also be heavier than parts of the infrastructure are designed for. The availability of specialized equipment, maintenance capacity and trained personnel can therefore be as crucial as the roads and railways themselves. The report also highlights the need for better information exchange between civil and military actors.
The same transport network should meet multiple needs
Military mobility does not occur in an empty transportation system. People still need to get to work, businesses need to transport goods, and the supply chains in society must continue to function. In a serious crisis, the pressure increases significantly, since the same ports, roads and railways need to accommodate both civilian traffic and military transport.
The report therefore highlights the value of infrastructure that can serve both civilian and military needs. Investments in ports, roads and railways can simultaneously strengthen military mobility, civilian transport and security of supply.
The entire transport chain needs to be strengthened
The report identifies a need for stronger port connections, increased rail capacity and greater redundancy across national borders. It also stresses the importance of east-west routes through Sweden and Norway, including the Meråkerbanen/Mittbanan.
As part of this wider network, the Nordic Connector is described as the most significant transport infrastructure project being discussed within the study area. A fixed connection would create a land-based passage across the Kvarken and reduce dependence on ferry transport. With a European standard-gauge railway, trains could travel from Norwegian Atlantic ports and other parts of Europe to a dedicated freight terminal in the Vaasa region. For continued rail transport on the Finnish network, the difference in track gauge would still need to be addressed.
Overall, the report shows that it is not enough to improve a single road or rail section, or to increase capacity at a single port. To meet the needs identified in the analysed crisis scenarios, the entire transport chain needs to be strengthened, from ports and terminals to connecting roads and railways.
Facts:
The analysis of military mobility has been carried out by Risk Intelligence A/S within the FLINC project’s Work Package 3. It was commissioned by the Kvarken Council EGTC within the framework of the FLINC project, MidtSkandia and the Fellesrådet for Trøndelag Jämtland Härjedalen.
The seminar was organized by the Kvarken Council EGTC within the framework of the FLINC project, together with the Finnish-Swedish Chamber of Commerce, during the Wasa Future Festival on 13 August, 2026. A total of 290 people attended the seminar. It was moderated by Sarah Väre, Growth Manager at the Kvarken Council EGTC.
FLINC, Financing Large-scale Infrastructure – Case Nordic Connector, is a project co-financed by Interreg Aurora and led by the Kvarken Council EGTC. The project produces a knowledge base on financing, regional effects, military mobility and security of supply in connection to the Nordic Connector. The results can also be used in work on other large cross-border infrastructure projects.
Links
- Robin Häggblom’s presentation: HERE
- Watch the full seminar on YouTube – the presentation starts at approximately 04:10:31
- Read more about the FLINC project: HERE
- Article 1 – Stronger connections for a safer and more competitive Nordic Region: HERE
- Article 2 – The region has the assets – now they must be tied together: HERE
- Article 3 – New analysis shows the conditions for financing Nordic Connector: HERE
