Finland's PM: "We Must Remember That Russia is Our Neighbor"

The new Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo (National Coalition Party), spoke at the Annual Meeting of Finnish Heads of Mission on Monday.

In his speech, Orpo focused on security policy and Finland's new NATO membership, among other things.

“We will look after our independence and territorial integrity. Our NATO membership is not intended as an attack against anyone, it is about strengthening our security and that of our Allies. We are ready to give help and to receive it. I hope our neighbor Sweden will soon be sitting at the same table as a full member of NATO.”

The prime minister pointed to Sweden as Finland's most important partner and noted that the close Nordic cooperation continues. There is also an ongoing effort to strengthen the collaboration between the Nordic and the Baltic countries, he pointed out.

Orpo also highlighted that Finland is "developing the relationship with the United States in a broad-based and goal-oriented manner.” This alludes, among other things, to Helsinki's negotiations with Washington D.C. on a bilateral defense agreement.

Furthermore, the prime minister also looked toward the East. 

“At the same time as we focus our efforts on the West, we must remember that Russia is our neighbor. We must continue to invest in our country’s knowledge of Russia and our ability to analyze developments there, both now and in the future.”

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