Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen: “Common goals and practical experiences guarantee seamless cooperation in all situations”.
Annual meeting of Nordic Chiefs of Defence Staffs in Finland

The Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Icelandic Chiefs of Defence Staffs met in Finland on 16 - 17 September. This was an annual meeting; Denmark had hosted the meeting in 2024. The central themes of the meeting included Nordic military cooperation and deepening it in the prevailing security situation and in the longer term.

The official programme included a visit in Karelia Brigade, a  presentation of special operations forces activities at Utti Jaeger Regiment and presentation of the activities of the South-East Finland Border Guard District in Vaalimaa. 

Chief of Defence Command Finland, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen who hosted the visit, extended warm thanks to his colleagues: 

– The military cooperation between the Nordic countries builds upon long, shared history and trust the significance of which is emphasised not only in the current security situation, but also in preparations for the future.  The cooperation works, because we share the same values, goals and practical experiences of strengthening common defence.