NATO Deputy Secretary General and Allies exchange views with the Finnish Foreign Minister

  • 24 Feb. 2021 -
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  • Last updated: 26 Feb. 2021 10:47

NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană welcomed Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto to NATO Headquarters today (24 February 2021) to discuss common security issues and opportunities for further cooperation. The Finnish Foreign Minister also took part in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council.

The Deputy Secretary General said Finland is one of NATO’s closest partners and thanked the Finnish Foreign Minister for the excellent relationship built on a foundation of common values, trust and common security interests.

Mr. Geoană expressed his appreciation to the Foreign Minister for Finland’s contributions to the international security, for example, by taking part in NATO-led missions and operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. He praised the work of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats based in Helsinki. The Deputy Secretary General also welcomed Finland’s expertise in resilience and civil preparedness.

The Deputy Secretary General and Minister Haavisto discussed the mutual benefits of the NATO-Finland partnership and agreed on the need to continue working closely on a range of issues, including security in the Baltic Sea region and countering hybrid threats. They also exchanged views on the NATO 2030 initiative to strengthen the Alliance for the future, NATO-EU cooperation, and the impact of climate change on the security environment, especially in the High North.