Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has declared Türkiye’s intention to significantly expand defense industry cooperation with Finland through concrete joint projects. During a press conference in Helsinki with Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Fidan emphasized that this enhanced bilateral effort will directly contribute to fortifying NATO’s deterrence and bolstering Europe’s overall defense capacity.
Broadening Strategic Cooperation
Fidan underscored Türkiye’s critical role as a NATO ally in European security. The ministers also addressed wider European security issues, with Finland set to chair the OSCE in 2025. Fidan stressed the importance of Türkiye’s involvement in EU defense initiatives, specifically the SAFE mechanism. He articulated a vision for deeper EU-Türkiye integration, stating, “The European Union would be incomplete without Türkiye—especially in the current context. Likewise, Türkiye would be missing a key component without the EU.” He called for advancing this process without delay.
Economic and Defense Partnership
On bilateral relations, Fidan noted that trade between Türkiye and Finland reached approximately $1.8 billion in 2024, with potential for growth in IT and renewable energy sectors. Regarding defense, he highlighted a recent Defense Industry Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed in June, which opens a new chapter for joint production, technology sharing, and capability development between the two nations.
Finland Backs Türkiye’s European Role
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen praised Türkiye’s contributions to transatlantic security. “Finland and Türkiye are united by their commitment to transatlantic security,” Valtonen said. She commended Türkiye’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war and its active mediation efforts. Valtonen also expressed Finland’s continued support for Türkiye’s EU membership bid and welcomed its participation as an equal partner in joint EU defense initiatives like the SAFE program.
Addressing the Gaza Crisis
The ministers also discussed the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Fidan reported that around 250 Palestinians have been killed since a ceasefire was established, a truce that Israel has repeatedly violated. “Despite all challenges, we expect the ceasefire to hold and progress to the next phase,” Fidan stated, calling on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities. Valtonen reiterated Finland’s commitment to a two-state solution based on international law for both Gaza and the West Bank. The conflict has resulted in nearly 69,000 fatalities in Gaza since October 2023.