NATO, Ukraine war on agenda as President starts Iceland visit

President Sauli Niinistö will discussed Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, security situation in Europe, Finland’s NATO accession and Nordic cooperation with his counterpart in Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson during his visit to Reykjavík beginning on Wednesday.

The President will be accompanied by First Lady Jenni Haukio during the two-day official visit, said the President Office in a press release.

On Wednesday, Niinistö will hold meeting with Jóhannesson and will discussed various bilateral and international issues including Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, security situation in Europe, Finland’s NATO accession and Nordic cooperation.

Niinistö will also meet Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Speaker of the Icelandic Parliament and Members of the Speaker’s Committee.

In the afternoon, Niinistö and Jóhannesson will participate at a discussion event on Europe’s security and Nordic cooperation at the University of Iceland. The day’s programme will end with a dinner hosted by the Presidential couple of Iceland.

First Lady Jenni Haukio will have separate programme on the first day of the state visit. After the state visit’s reception ceremony, she will participate in a literary panel on the association between literature, folklore and national identity together with Eliza Reid, spouse of the President of Iceland, at the Nordic House in Reykjavik.

They will also visit the National Museum of Iceland.

On the second day of the visit, Niinistö and Haukio will be introduced to Iceland’s natural environment and impacts of climate change in Iceland. Their destinations will include Langjökull glacier, which they will visit together with the Iceland’s Presidential couple.

Niinistö last visited Iceland in autumn 2014. The Presidential couple made a state visit to Iceland in 2013, whereas President of Iceland Jóhannesson and his spouse paid a state visit to Finland in May 2018.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Finland and Iceland.