Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Finland in Helsinki
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, at a joint press conference with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in Helsinki, announced that the two countries aim to enhance defense cooperation through concrete projects with the participation of relevant institutions and companies.
Fidan emphasized: “This cooperation, which strengthens NATO’s deterrence, is also an important step toward improving Europe’s security capacity and defense industry.”
He added that during the meeting, bilateral relations were comprehensively discussed and future joint steps were evaluated. He noted: “In 2024, the trade volume between Turkey and Finland was approximately 1.8 billion dollars. We are ready for closer cooperation in areas such as information technology and renewable energy.”
The Turkish Foreign Minister further stated: “The European Union must reassess its relations with our country from a long-term, realistic, and strategic perspective. At this stage, we need an approach that strengthens mutual trust and advances our cooperation. In this regard, activating and structuring high-level dialogue mechanisms is of great importance.”
He continued: “Updating the Customs Union and advancing dialogue on visa liberalization will benefit both sides. The EU’s recent steps to facilitate the Schengen visa process are also a positive sign of goodwill.”
Referring to developments in Gaza, Fidan said: “Since the announcement of the ceasefire, around 250 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israeli attacks. Despite all the challenges, we expect the ceasefire to continue, move to the next stage, and for the international community to play its role in this process.”
He added: “Efforts, particularly within the United Nations, are ongoing. Intense negotiations and consultations are underway on how to implement the peace plan. Humanitarian aid is insufficient, and there are numerous complaints in this regard. The key question is how we can make this aid more effective and efficient. Our efforts in this direction will continue.”
