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
Ukraine Defense Contact Group to meet at Ramstein Air Base
The next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG, also known as the Ramstein Group) will take place on Tuesday 19 March 2024 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The UDCG coordinates materiel assistance to Ukraine.
Finland to boost its high-technology profile in NATO – An accelerator and two test centres to be established in Finland
The Board of Directors of NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) have approved Finland’s proposal to establish one accelerator and two test centres in Finland.
Finland’s Cyber Security Strategy to be revised under the leadership of the National Cyber Security Director
On 8 March 2024, the Prime Minister’s Office set up a project to develop an operating model for government security management. As part of the project, a sub-group was established for preparing a revision of the Cyber Security Strategy.
Minister of Defence Häkkänen to attend NATO Defence Ministers meeting and Munich Security Conference
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will attend a meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Thursday 15 February. NATO defence ministers will address NATO’s new defence plans and their resourcing, the ramping up of the defence industry’s production capacity, and support to Ukraine.
Working group to promote wind power projects in eastern Finland
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Defence have appointed a working group to explore ways to coordinate territorial surveillance and wind power construction. The aim is to improve the conditions for wind power projects to proceed in eastern Finland. The term of the working group is 1 February–30 June 2024.
Informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels
The defence ministers of the European Union will convene for an informal meeting in Brussels on 30-31 January 2024.
Minister of Defence Häkkänen to attend Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting
Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will represent Finland at a meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group, which will be held remotely on 23 January 2024. The Group coordinates arms assistance to Ukraine. The meeting will focus on supporting Ukraine in the war of aggression launched by Russia.
Three negative decisions on real estate transactions in Ilomantsi and Sotkamo
On 10 January 2024, Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen issued three negative permit decisions concerning real estate acquisitions by buyers from outside the EU and EEA.