FM visits US to discuss NATO membership, Ukraine

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on Wednesday stated a three-day visit to Washington to discuss the progress of Finland’s NATO membership process and the Russian invasion of Ukraine with his US counterpart Antony Blinken, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release.

In addition to this bilateral meeting, Haavisto and Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will meet Blinken together.

“It is important that Finland has regular dialogue with the United States on matters concerning European security. Finland is committed to supporting Ukraine in cooperation with the EU and our partners. We appreciate all the support the United States has given to Finland’s NATO membership,” Haavisto said.

In Washington, the Foreign Minister will meet representatives of the US administration and US Congress and exchange views on topical foreign and security policy themes with researchers.

He will also participate in a panel discussion on European security, which is organised by the Aspen Security Forum. The biannual forum brings together government officials, business executives, academics and journalists to discuss topical questions of foreign and security policy.

Haavisto will visit New York on Friday, where he will meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN leaders responsible for peacebuilding and humanitarian questions.

One of the topics of the meetings will be the global effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Other themes of discussion will be topical regional matters, such as the situation in the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa.

Meanwhile, Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen is also making a working visit to Ankara on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the NATO issue with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar.