Niinistö, Harris discuss tense Int´l situation over telephone

President Sauli Niinistö on Tuesday evening had a long telephone conversation call with Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris and discussed various bilateral and international issues, said the President office in a press release.

Niinistö and Harris agreed that the close bilateral relationship between Finland and the United States is excellent, and they discussed possibilities to further increase cooperation above all in the fields of technology and security.

The discussion also focused on great power relations and the tense international situation. Niinistö elaborated on his initiative to strengthen the Helsinki Spirit as it turns 50 years in 2025.

They spoke about the need for constructive cooperation in the Arctic region, concerning both climate change and security issues. Niinistö thanked the US for its return to international climate cooperation.

In addition to global health security cooperation, the migration movements towards both the United States and Europe were also raised, including possibilities to address their root causes.

In this regard Niinistö stressed the importance of improving the position of women and girls.