LONDON Foreign minister Elina Valtonen (co.k.) received a laudatory reception from its British counterpart today.
Valtonen signed the British Foreign Minister David Cameron’s with in London a statement on strategic partnership.
Valtonen walked next to Cameron into the palatial Foreign Ministry hall, where the signing ceremony was surrounded by paintings from the British colonial era.
David Cameron spared no praise after signing the statement. For him, Finland’s NATO membership is one of the finest developments in recent years.
He called the partnership a big step in the two countries’ close relations.
– You are such capable partners. Great armed forces, great defense equipment and experience, Cameron laid down for Valtose who was standing next to him after the signing.
In the background, Britain needs to strengthen cooperation to support Ukraine against the Russian attack.
– Finland has done a lot and will do even more – as we have for many years – to help Ukraine with everything they need economically, diplomatically and militarily. There is nothing more important, said Cameron.
Valtonen later told that Ukraine, European security and Finland’s eastern border were at the heart of the discussion before the signing.
– We talked a lot about security and defense in connection with supporting Ukraine, which is the most central part of building our common security, and strengthening deterrence and defense in a European manner, Valtonen said.
In the statement, the parties promise to support Ukraine militarily, by training Ukrainian soldiers and sending aid to civilians until Ukraine wins the war. The countries also promise to support Ukraine’s economic growth through private sector investments.
The declaration declares Putin’s Russia as the most significant and greatest threat to security and peace in Europe.
Britain has demanded more support from European countries for arming Ukraine and an increase in defense spending.
Valtonen wants a smooth arms trade
Elina Valtonen emphasized to the importance of trade in defense equipment in a strategic partnership. The aim of the partnership is to ensure that defense supplies can flow smoothly between Britain, Finland and the EU in joint procurement, despite Britain’s exit from the EU.
– Although of course it is unfortunate that the British have left the European Union when it comes to defense equipment, cooperation within the NATO alliance must be very close. We should not build protective walls or protectionism between like-minded countries.
According to Valtonen, we cannot afford to leave Britain out of the procurement of defense materials. He says that Britain invests heavily in European security.
– If Finland makes procurements alone or together with the EU, or Great Britain alone or in different organizations, we do not make a difference in which country the company producing the material operates, if it is in the territory of the union. In other words, you won’t be dragged home, Valtonen says.
According to Valtonen, the foreign ministers also talked a lot about reacting to hybrid threats. Cooperation in cyber security procurement was also mentioned in the statement. According to him, Finnish high-tech companies have something to offer.
– In critical infrastructure, Finland is a key player in network technology with Nokia. We also have a large number of companies of various sizes that are top in their field, he says.
Valtonen says that Finland has greatly increased ammunition production to support Ukraine and to strengthen its own defense.
– At the same time, we are very open to the fact that wherever there is material that we need to build our own reserve or to support Ukraine, we can get it from there, Valtonen explains.
Valtonen thanks Finland and Britain for further expanding defense and security cooperation.
International agreements are wanted to be renewed in order to dam asylum seekers
The statement also talks about cooperation to prevent illegal immigration. Valtonen referred to the arrival of asylum seekers across the eastern border, which he calls the instrumentalization of people as a security political weapon.
Britain and Finland want to jointly develop legislation so that the external threat can be met. Valtonen said that the international agreements concerning asylum seekers have expired.
– The very central international agreements that bind us all to the rule of law and, in the case of Finland, the EU law and others were written at a time in the world where there were no similar phenomena and threats to what we know now, he said.