Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes visited Finland on 22 May 2025 for high-level defence discussions, focusing on NATO cooperation, European security, and support for Ukraine.
Received with military honours by Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen in Helsinki, the bilateral meeting covered critical defence priorities ahead of the upcoming summit in The Hague.
The ministers focused on reinforcing NATO’s deterrence posture against potential Russian aggression, with Minister Backes reaffirming Luxembourg’s commitment to reach the 2% defence spending target in 2025.
Discussions also addressed continued support for Ukraine through initiatives like the IT Coalition, with Backes acknowledging Finland’s contributions to this Estonia-Luxembourg led programme. Both parties explored future bilateral cooperation opportunities in the space sector as part of their enhanced partnership.
The working visit also featured tours of strategic Finnish defence facilities including the Hakaniemi bunker system, an icebreaker vessel, and the national emergency supply agency.
