Finland and Sweden willing to strengthen defence cooperation

Finland and Sweden are both very willing to engage in even closer cooperation in several sectors, including in "the bioeconomy and the defence" fields, said the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a press release. 

The good relations between the two countries and the will to further enhance them where among the key topics discussed by the prime minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven and Finnish prime minister Juha Sipilä in Helsinki on 29 January. Finland was the first destination visited by prime minister Löfven after his re-election.

“I am very happy that the new Swedish Government places so much emphasis on further developing and deepening our relations in sectors such as defence cooperation and biotechnology”, prime minister Sipilä says.

The Prime Ministers also talked about the outcome of the Nordic climate meeting held in Helsinki last week and the ways to promote climate change mitigation by Nordic and European action.

Also on the agenda in the discussions were Finland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU and topical EU affairs such as migration, the next Multiannual Financial Framework of the EU, defence and Brexit.

“With regard to Brexit the ball is still in the British court. It is for the country to decide what it wants. As long as the situation is unclear, the EU will prepare for all options”, prime minister Sipilä says.