Minister of Defence Häkkänen to host meetings of Nordic Defence Cooperation and Nordic–Baltic defence ministers in Helsinki

Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will host a defence ministers’ meeting of the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) in Helsinki on 12 November 2025. He will also host a meeting of Nordic and Baltic defence ministers on Thursday 13 November.

“I invited my colleagues from the defense ministries to Finland at an important time. We are strengthening the defense and security of supply in the Nordic region. By improving our strategic and operational interoperability, we can better achieve seamless cooperation to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence. We also plan to continue our support for Ukraine”, Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Finland is chairing NORDEFCO this year and the Nordic–Baltic defence cooperation this autumn. Norway will take over as the chair of NORDEFCO in 2026.

The topics of the NORDEFCO defence ministers’ meeting will include Nordic defence cooperation, support for Ukraine and current matters in NATO. Ministers will also discuss defence materiel cooperation between their countries with regard to unmanned aircraft and ammunition production. The Chiefs of Defence from all the Nordic countries will be attending the meeting for the first time, which will support strategic and military planning in the north.

The meeting of Nordic and Baltic defence ministers will discuss security in the neighbouring region, current NATO topics and support for Ukraine.

Inquiries: Tiina Benredjem, Senior Specialist (the meetings), Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 009, and Jenina Haapanen, Specialist (the meetings), Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 070; Kristian Vakkuri, Head of Communications (communications on the meetings), tel. +358 295 140 123.