2023
Minister of Defence Savola to attend NATO defence minister meeting
Minister of Defence Mikko Savola will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday, 14-15 February. Finland will attend the meeting as an invitee.
On Tuesday, NATO member countries and invitees Finland and Sweden will discuss Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the materiel assistance to be delivered to Ukraine with Ukraine's Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov.
"We strongly condemn Russia’s nearly year-long invasion of Ukraine. Finland has increased our arms assistance to Ukraine and we are in the process of preparing the next materiel package," says Minister of Defence Savola.
On the second day of the meeting, the ministers will exchange views on strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence and on the defence industry’s manufacturing capacity. The ministers will also discuss the Allies’ defence spending and investments.
"This is the second time Finland and Sweden are invitees at a meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence. I look forward to important discussions during the two-day meeting with our future Allies," says Minister of Defence Savola.
Minister Savola’s other meetings in Brussels
Minister of Defence Savola will also attend a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO Headquarters on Tuesday 14 February. The meeting will address the situation in Ukraine and the assistance provided to the country. Chief of Defence Timo Kivinen will also attend the meeting. Led by the United States, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is a coalition of over 40 countries that coordinates the delivery of armed assistance to Ukraine.
In Brussels, the Minister will also have bilateral meetings with the defence ministers of Norway and Germany.
Inquiries: Senior Specialist Laura Furuholm on the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 070; Director General Janne Kuusela on the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, tel. +358 295 140 300, and Special Adviser Emma Virkkunen on communications related to the meetings, tel. 358 295 140 176.