“Issues created by Russia’s 2-year-old invasion of Ukraine”, Europe’s path and the creation of an EU defense arm were at the center of a meeting between Finnish and Greek Defense Ministers Andi Hakanen and Nikos Dendias in Helsinki.
In his statement immediately following his meeting with his Finnish counterpart, Mr. Dendias underlined that “Greece and Finland have many similarities. They are medium-sized countries, but both are located next to large neighbors with revisionist ambitions. Both countries are also on the external borders of the European Union. Both countries are countries that believe in International Law and that believe in International Law of the Sea, having a large number of islands.”
At the same time he mentioned that today’s visit is his first as Minister of National Defense and the third as a minister of the Mitsotakis government. As it has been announced, the Minister of National Defense will also meet with the chairman of the defense committee of the parliament Yuka Kopra.
Also, Mr. Dendias informed his Finnish counterpart regarding the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and northern and sub-Saharan Africa, while Greece’s intention to copy the Finnish reserve model was discussed, and in this context, Mr. Dendias will have a detailed discussion with officers later today unit of the Finnish army.
Furthermore, the Minister of National Defense will visit the Center for Countering Hybrid Threats, in which Greek officers also serve. He will also meet with executives of the Finnish defense industry in view of the presentation in Parliament – in a few days – of the defense innovation bill “that is, the effort to create a defense ecosystem and we want Finnish companies – some of which are world class – to participate and them in this effort”, as he said.
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