President to meet U.S. Senators in Helsinki, visit US

President Sauli Niinistö will meet U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican Senators Thom Tillis, Joni Ernst, Ted Budd, Katie Britt and Pete Ricketts on Friday at Mäntyniemi in Helsinki, said the President Office in a press release on Thursday.

During their meeting, the President and Senators will discuss, among other things, Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, the situation and prospects of the war one year after the start of it, support for Ukraine, and advancing Finland's membership in NATO.

The Senators' visit to Finland will be hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to Finland, Douglas Hickey.

Meanwhile, Niinistö will visit the United States from March 6 to March 10, said the President Office in another press release on Thursday.

In addition to foreign and security policy issues, the focus will be on closer economic and technological cooperation.

The visit begins on March 6 on the West Coast in Seattle. Niinistö will meet Governor of the State of Washington Jay Inslee and attend a joint session of the State Senate, where he will give an address on transatlantic cooperation in the areas of security, technology and economy.

The programme also includes visits to companies and a discussion on security policy at the National Nordic Museum.

On March 7, the President will be in Palo Alto in order to participate in a discussion on security policy, great power competition and new technologies, organised by the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University.

At a meeting with California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis the topics of discussion will cover the international political situation and the green and digital transition.

The President and the Lieutenant Governor will also participate in the Bifrost Summit, an event presenting innovative Nordic entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley.

On March 9, the President will visit Washington D.C., where he will meet U.S. Senators, among others.

The meetings will focus on Finland’s NATO membership, transatlantic partnership and security in Europe.

In Washington, the President will also attend an event on defence industry and emerging technologies organised by the Embassy of Finland.

At the end of the visit on Friday 10 March, Niinistö will visit the Naval Station Norfolk and meet Governor of the State of Virginia Glenn Youngkin.