2017
Minister Niinistö discussed Nordic cooperation at the Leangkollen conference in Norway
Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö attended the Leangkollen Security Conference in Norway on Monday 13 February. The conference which is held in high esteem was first started in 1965. The annual event focused this year on the changing security environment in Northern Europe. The invitees included the defence ministers of Norway and Sweden.
Minister Niinistö underlined in his address that the Nordic countries are facing a similar security environment that has changed and they should invest in defence more on the national basis while also further developing Nordic defence cooperation. He pointed out that for Finland Nordic cooperation is an important element in international defence cooperation which, for its part, has a role to play in developing Finland’s national defence.
According to Niinistö, national defence solutions provide the basis which should be bolstered regardless of cooperation. He also thinks it is of utmost importance that Finland has maintained national defence forces; well-functioning international cooperation requires that the defence forces are in good shape.
After ending the conference defence ministers met at a working lunch during which they discussed Nordic defence cooperation (Nordefco) and bilateral cooperation between Finland and Sweden. Finland holds the chairmanship of Nordefco this year.