PM stresses need for drone wall

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Friday met with European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius in Helsinki and discussed various issues including European security.

They discussed the plans to develop a drone wall and efforts to strengthen the EU’s common defence more broadly, said a government press release.

“I highlighted Finland’s views on our priorities for developing the drone wall. We were both in agreement that the drone wall should be built soon,” Orpo said in the press release.

“We are moving at a good pace – the planning is already underway, and the Defence Commissioner’s visit to Finland sends a concrete message that our vision and expertise are needed. The EU heads of state and government will continue their discussions next week at the informal European Council, and I intend to keep this topic high on the agenda there, too,” said the Prime Minister.

Orpo stressed the need for solidarity in the interest of security.

“By this I mean that we in Finland, together with the Baltic States and Poland, are defending all of Europe from here at its eastern border. It is here that we most need solidarity in the interest of security. I believe this is also understood elsewhere in Europe,” Orpo added.