Antti Häkkänen, the newly appointed Minister of Defence for Finland, embarked on his first visit abroad in his new role on Thursday. The destination of this significant trip was Sweden, where he met with his Swedish counterpart, Defense Minister Pål Jonson.
The visit began on a harmonious note, with the Swedish Marine Corps orchestra playing the national anthems of both countries as Minister Jonson warmly welcomed Minister Häkkänen in the Government Office. The musical performance set the tone for a fruitful and collaborative meeting between the two defense ministers.
During their discussions, Minister Jonson emphasized the importance of further developing and deepening the already strong bilateral defense cooperation between Sweden and Finland. Additionally, he highlighted the significance of cooperation within the framework of Nordic defense cooperation and the upcoming engagement with NATO. Both ministers agreed that these collaborations would contribute to strengthening the ties between their respective countries.
One of the crucial topics addressed during the meeting was the continued materiel cooperation and regional security, with a specific focus on the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The defense ministers expressed their grave concern over Russia’s aggressive actions, which have led to a significant deterioration in the security policy environment. In response to this, Finland and Sweden reaffirmed their unwavering support to Ukraine. They vowed to offer their assistance for as long as necessary, in order to help Ukraine withstand the threatening situation it currently faces.
The meeting between Minister Häkkänen and Minister Jonson symbolized the commitment of Finland and Sweden to strengthening their defense cooperation and contributing to regional security. The discussions held and agreements reached during this diplomatic engagement signify a unified stance against Russia’s destabilizing actions and a joint effort to ensure a safer future for their nations and the region as a whole.