Official press releases, news and speeches that the minister has held are located in this section. The Ministry of Defence publishes all of its press releases and news in Finnish and Swedish and many of them in English, too.
Press Releases
Working group proposes to strengthen voluntary national defence
The working group reviewing the target state of voluntary national defence submitted its report to Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen on 21 March 2025. The working group identified three possible alternatives for organising voluntary national defence. Based on the review, the working group proposes to strengthen voluntary national defence by preserving the best parts of the current system, while improving its operational and strategic effectiveness.
Finnish-led project covering FAMOUS armoured vehicles to progress – total value over EUR 100 million
Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to sign the FAMOUS IA2 Implementation Agreement, the FAMOUS 2 Project Agreement and the FAMOUS 2 National Agreement.
Finnish Defence Forces to place large cartridge order with Nammo Lapua
Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to procure cartridges for model 7.62 RK and 7.62 KIV rifles from the Finnish company Nammo Lapua Oy.
Finland and Ukraine sign new MoU on defence cooperation – Finland announces new arms assistance package
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen and Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov met bilaterally on Thursday 13 March 2025. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation between the two countries’ defence administrations.
Nordic defence ministers to meet in Helsinki
Nordic defence ministers will meet in Helsinki on 13 March 2025.
Nordic countries to harmonise processes for certification of ammunition
Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have signed a Technical Arrangement on ammunition certification to harmonise Nordic processes for the certification of ammunition.
Finland and Denmark to enhance their defence cooperation
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen and Denmark’s Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen signed a joint declaration on Tuesday 4 March 2025 in connection with the Danish state visit to Finland. In the declaration, the two countries underline their readiness to enhance bilateral defence cooperation. The ministers also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of Defence of Finland and Denmark regarding bilateral defence cooperation.
Permanent Secretary Pulkkinen to visit United States
Permanent Secretary of Finland’s Ministry of Defence Esa Pulkkinen will pay a working visit to the United States on 2–6 March 2025. During his visit, he will meet representatives of the new US administration at the Department of Defense and the Department of State.
Finnish Defence Forces to continue its contribution to SNMG1
The participation of the Finnish Defence Forces in the tasks of the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) will be extended in 2025, according to a decision by the Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen. In 2025, a Hamina class vessel will be deployed to the SNMG1 for a maximum of four months instead of the initial one month.
Ministry of Defence to launch new programme to support Ukraine, promising Finnish defence industry orders for value of EUR 660 million
Finland’s Ministry of Defence will launch a new programme to support Ukraine whereby products will be ordered directly from the Finnish defence industry.
Finnish Navy to supplement recognised maritime picture together with US Marine Corps
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has decided that the United States Marine Corps will participate in supplementing the recognised maritime picture in the Gulf of Finland in cooperation with the Finnish Navy.
Collective defence of North Atlantic Treaty Organization to become statutory duty of Finnish Defence Forces
At its session on 20 February 2025, the Finnish Government approved the government proposal for amending the Act on the Defence Forces based on Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen’s presentation. The Finnish Defence Forces would be given a new statutory duty, the collective defence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Minister of Defence Häkkänen signs Letter of Intent on Slovenian procurement of 8 x 8 Armoured Vehicles
Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen signed a Letter of Intent between Slovenia and Finland on support for the procurement of 8 x 8 Armoured Modular Vehicles on Thursday 13th February 2025 in Brussels. On the Slovenian side the Letter of Intent was signed by Minister of Defence Borut Sajovic.
Minister of Defence Häkkänen to attend meeting of UDCG, meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence and Munich Security Conference
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will visit Brussels and attend the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) on Wednesday 12 February and the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence on Thursday 13 February. From Brussels, Minister Häkkänen will travel to Munich to attend the Munich Security Conference on 14–15 February.
Suspected violation of Finnish airspace over the Gulf of Finland
A Russian state aircraft is suspected of having violated Finnish airspace over the Gulf of Finland, west of the town of Hanko.
Government submits to Parliament bill on restricting real estate transactions by Russians
On 6 February 2025, the Finnish Government submitted to Parliament a proposal for legislation banning foreign real estate acquisitions. Permits would not be granted to persons whose country of nationality is waging a war of aggression and may pose a threat to Finland’s national security. This ban would also apply to entities who are domiciled in the territory of such a country or owned or influenced by citizens or entities of such a country.
Minister of Defence Häkkänen: A new TNT factory will be built in Finland
A new TNT factory will be built in Finland. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen announced this on 31 January 2025. The factory will be located in Pori. The project's value exceeds 200 million euros.
Finland to send more defence materiel to Ukraine
Finland will deliver its 27th materiel assistance package to Ukraine. The President of the Republic decided on the matter on 31 January 2025 on the proposal of the Government.