2022
Norwegian and Swedish defence ministers to visit Finland
Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will host the visit of Norwegian and Swedish defence ministers Bjørn Arild Gram and Peter Hultqvist to Finland on Thursday 25 August 2022.
Minister Kaikkonen will meet both ministers on a bilateral and trilateral basis.
The topics to discuss with the Norwegian Minister of Defence will include bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries and the security situation in the neighbouring areas. They will also discuss the NATO membership process, F35 procurement and materiel and industrial cooperation. The programme also includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hietaniemi cemetery.
The topics with Sweden’s Minister for Defence will include bilateral defence cooperation, the NATO membership process and other defence policy issues.
The trilateral meeting of the ministers will include defence cooperation between the countries, the future of Nordic cooperation and the security situation in the neighbouring areas.
“Sweden and Norway are very close partners for us and it is natural to discuss the change in our security environment with them. Finland and Sweden’s upcoming membership of NATO opens up new opportunities to deepen relations between the Nordic countries. It is very important that we hold together during these unpredictable times - this creates stability in Northern Europe,” says Minister Kaikkonen.
Inquiries: Special Adviser Anton Staffans on the visit of Norway’s Minister of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 053; Special Adviser Tuomas Koskenniemi on the visit of Sweden’s Minister for Defence, tel. +358 295 140 058; and Head of Communications Kristian Vakkuri on communications related to the visit, tel. +358 295 140 123, and Special Adviser Emma Virkkunen, tel. + 358 295 140 176.