Finland and the UK will declare Russia as the most significant
and direct threat to European peace and stability in a new
Strategic Partnership signed today.
The agreement, which will bolster the relationship between the
two countries, will be endorsed by Foreign Secretary and his Finnish counterpart
Elina Valtonen at an event in London.
The UK and Finland already share a long history of defence
cooperation, including through military exercises and training,
with the UK instrumental in securing Finland's NATO accession.
Today's renewed partnership will expand cooperation across a
range of other areas.
Foreign Secretary said:
As long-standing partners and new NATO Allies, the UK's
relationship with Finland is going from strength to strength.
As we stand together to support Ukraine, including through
providing military aid and training, we are clear that the threat
of Russian aggression, following the war it started, will not be
tolerated.
This Strategic Partnership, built on our shared values, will see
the UK and Finland step up cooperation to bolster European
security as well as seize new opportunities, from science and
technology to closer energy ties.
A joint statement between the two Foreign Ministers will set out
how Russia's illegal, full-scale war of aggression against
Ukraine has fundamentally changed the European security
environment.
It will underline the importance of the bilateral partnership,
working together to deny Russia any benefit from the war it
started, counter Russian disinformation, malicious cyber
activities, and hybrid threats, and support Ukraine's recovery,
reconstruction, and modernisation.
The text will also outline the shared ambition to scale up
collaboration on science and technology, trade and investment and
tackling illegal migration.
