Defence ministers of Finland, Norway Sweden to meet in Helsinki

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, said the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday.

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," said Kaikkonen.