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Finland's Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen expressed strong support for Türkiye's participation in European defense cooperation, stating the continent urgently needs Ankara's involvement in security initiatives as geopolitical tensions mount across the region.
"Türkiye certainly has the opportunity to participate in defense industry cooperation (European Security Action Programme) as a partner on equal grounds and conditions, which we really strongly need right now," Valtonen said Tuesday during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at Finland's Foreign Ministry.
The remarks underscore growing Nordic-Turkish security alignment following Finland's NATO accession and amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Valtonen emphasized that both nations face similar threats, particularly from Russia, which she described as "probably a long-term strategic threat" to the entire transatlantic alliance.
"Finland values Türkiye's role as a country providing security to Europe," Valtonen said. "It is also a country providing security for all of the transatlantic alliance."
The Finnish foreign minister praised Türkiye's position on the Ukraine conflict, noting Ankara has supported Ukrainian territorial integrity not only during the past four years of war but also since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. She commended Türkiye's active mediation efforts toward achieving "a just and lasting peace."
"We appreciate Türkiye's efforts in achieving not just a ceasefire but also finding a lasting solution afterward," Valtonen said, adding that NATO must increase its defense and deterrence capabilities.
The meeting addressed expanding bilateral trade between the two countries, with Valtonen highlighting increased Finnish exports to Türkiye. She emphasized that free market access and open trade have become increasingly important "in a period of insecurity and unpredictability in the world."
On European Union enlargement, Valtonen reaffirmed Finland's longstanding position supporting Türkiye's EU candidacy since Helsinki held the EU presidency in 1999. "Finland's position has not changed on this issue and has always supported value-based enlargement," she said, outlining requirements including transparent market economy, anti-corruption efforts, rule of law reforms, and human rights protections.
The diplomats also discussed the recent Gaza ceasefire and Türkiye's November 3 hosting of talks regarding an international stabilization force for Gaza. Valtonen expressed hope for a two-state solution based on international law covering populations in both Gaza and the West Bank.
Valtonen noted that Finland and Türkiye share commitments to transatlantic security, with counterterrorism cooperation becoming a common approach since Finland joined NATO. The foreign ministers marked the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between their countries last year.
In a symbolic gesture, Valtonen presented Fidan with a book by former Finnish President Mauno Koivisto titled "The Russian Idea," explaining she chose it because "there is a section where it says that the only power the Russian Empire respected was the Ottoman Empire."
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