Defence Minister Emphasizes: Russian Aggression Strengthens Global Unity According to Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP), Finland must remain vigilant, with the invasion of Ukraine by the
Kremlin fostering closer ties among Western and Nordic nations.
During an appearance on Yle's A-Studio program, Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) highlighted the escalating aggressiveness of Russia, noting its centuries-old pattern. He mentioned the correlation between Russian energy revenues, military funding, and attacks on neighboring countries, attributing this behavior to President Vladimir Putin's tenure since the early 2000s.
Häkkänen stressed that Russia's conduct has forged stronger international alliances, particularly within NATO. He emphasized the robustness of Article 5’s protective measures and highlighted Finland's national defense capability, the Nordic defense dynamics, and the Finnish-US defense cooperation agreement, constituting a solid defense posture in the North.
Addressing Finland's impending challenges from its eastern neighbor, Häkkänen emphasized the necessity of serious preparedness in national defense, in conjunction with NATO, the US, and international allies. He underscored the significance of moving beyond conventional diplomatic constraints, urging resoluteness while assuring the public that there's no immediate cause for concern.
In a separate announcement, Häkkänen revealed plans by the Finnish government to unveil the terms of the highly anticipated Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States this week. The agreement is anticipated to be officially signed in Washington in the following week.
Häkkänen outlined that the DCA would establish a legal framework for both Finland and the United States to collaboratively fortify defensive capabilities on Finnish soil. The agreement primarily aims to grant US military personnel access to Finnish facilities for training, equipment maintenance, and weapons storage, encompassing airports, harbors, and specific training zones. Photo by U.S. Department of State from United States, Wikimedia commons.