(MENAFN) Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday emphasized Türkiye’s goal of deepening defense industry collaboration with Finland through concrete institutional and corporate projects, describing the initiative as a way to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and enhance Europe’s overall security and defense capabilities.

Fidan made the remarks during a joint news conference in Helsinki with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, following discussions on bilateral relations and regional security.

“Türkiye is a NATO ally that provides critical contributions to Europe’s security,” Fidan stated, noting that the talks also covered broader European security concerns, particularly as Finland assumes the 2025 chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). He highlighted Türkiye’s participation in the EU’s defense and security initiatives, including the SAFE (Security and Defence of Europe) mechanism, as “of great importance.”

Fidan further stressed the interdependence between Türkiye and the EU, saying, “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 added, “We believe the EU and Türkiye must advance their integration process without delay or excuses. Our government is fully committed to this goal, and we welcome renewed political will from European leaders.”

Economic and Defense Collaboration
Fidan also highlighted efforts to expand economic ties, noting that bilateral trade between Türkiye and Finland reached approximately $1.8 billion in 2024. He indicated that the two countries are prepared to cooperate more closely in fields such as information technology and renewable energy, and identified the Arctic region as a potential area for future collaboration.

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