2022
Minister of Defence Kaikkonen to attend NATO defence minister meeting
Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen will attend NATO’s meeting of defence ministers at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday 12 to 13 October. The October meeting of defence ministers is the first ministerial level NATO meeting in which Finland and Sweden participate as observer members.
At the working dinner on 12 October, the ministers will discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its effects on European security. In addition to the defence ministers of NATO Member Countries and those of Finland and Sweden, the Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov has been invited to the working dinner.
– Today’s meeting is held at a serious moment in time. The West sharply condemns Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Defence materiel assistance to Ukraine has been increased. I expect the two-day meeting to yield important discussions on the safety of Europe, says Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen.
The second day of the meeting will begin with a working session dealing with the development of NATO’s deterrence and defence and Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. In the afternoon, the ministers will discuss NATO’s operations. In addition to the member countries, Finland and Sweden, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has also been invited to participate in the discussion on NATO’s operations.
– The meeting is historic for Finland and Sweden. We continue to work to reach full membership in NATO as soon as possible, states Minister of Defence Kaikkonen.
Other meetings of the Minister of Defence in Brussels 12.–13.10.
Minister of Defence Kaikkonen will also attend the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting and the meetings of the Framework Nation Concept and the Northern Defence Dialogue for ministers at NATO Headquarters on 12 October.
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group will discuss the situation in Ukraine and the support given to the country. Led by the United States, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is a coalition of over 40 countries that coordinates the delivery of armed assistance to Ukraine.
The ministerial meeting of the Framework Nation Concept (FNC), led by Germany, will discuss the current situation and development of the FNC initiative. The goal of the framework nations is to develop multinational European capabilities and build formations for the needs of, for example, crisis management.
Chaired by Canada, the Northern Defence Dialogue ministerial meeting will address the security policy situation and opportunities for cooperation in the Arctic region. This meeting is a follow-up to the meeting held in May, and Finland, Canada, the United States and the other Nordic countries will attend.
While in Brussels, Minister Kaikkonen will hold bilateral meetings with the defence ministers of Turkey and Hungary and a trilateral meeting with the defence ministers of Sweden and the United States.
Inquiries: Senior Specialist Samuli Puhakka on NATO’s defence minister meeting, tel. +358 295 140 089; Director General Janne Kuusela on the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, tel. +358 295 140 300; Senior Staff Officer Tatu Mikkola on Germany-led Framework Nation Concept meeting, tel. +358 295 140 006; Senior Specialist Anton Staffans on Northern Defence Dialogue, tel. +358 295 140 053, and Special Adviser Emma Virkkunen on communications related to the meetings, tel. + 358 295 140 176.