The Ministry of Defence states in a press release that Defence Minister Pål Jonson visited Finland's Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen in Helsinki on Monday, 24 October. The visit was Pål Jonson's first foreign visit as Defence Minister.
Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen hosted the visit. The focus of the ministers' discussions was the NATO membership applications of Sweden and Finland. The ministers confirmed the special position that Sweden and Finland hold within both Swedish and Finnish defence and security policy.
– The NATO membership applications of Sweden and Finland are the government's most important foreign and security policy priority right now, and that Sweden, together with Finland, should become full members quickly, says Defence Minister Pål Jonson.
The two ministers also discussed other issues such as the bilateral cooperation between Sweden and Finland, trilateral collaborations that both countries have with Norway and with the USA, as well as the continued military support to Ukraine.