Finland, Japan sign new defence agreement

Finland and Japan have signed an agreement concerning the transfer of defence equipment and technology, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release on Monday.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries during the ongoing visit of Häkkänen to Japan.

The agreement sets forth the terms and conditions of the transfer of defence equipment and technology.

The cooperation can take the form of research, development or production projects.

The agreement establishes a legal framework concerning the handling of defense equipment and technology to be transferred between Japan and Finland for joint research, development, and production of defense equipment and technology in which both governments participate, and for strengthening cooperation in the field of security and defense, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in a press release.

It will ensure appropriate control over the defense equipment and technology transferred between Japan and Finland, especially regarding transfer to third parties or extra-purpose use, the press release added.

A joint committee of the two countries will coordinate the cooperation.

“I would like to thank the Japanese Minister of Defence for the good negotiation process. The agreement will open up significant growth opportunities for our defence industry and technology companies. The international security environment requires democratic countries to cooperate more closely in the development of the defence industry and technology. Japan is an important partner for Finland,” said Häkkänen in the press release.