The Chief of the Swedish Defence Staff visited Finland

The Chief of the Swedish Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Carl-Johan Edström visited Finland 19-20 November 2024. The visit was hosted by the Chief of the Finnish Defence Command, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen.

Lieutenant General Edström took the office of the Chief of the Swedish Defence Staff in October. The purpose of the visit was to continue the discussion on defense cooperation between Finland and Sweden, and to familiarize Lieutenant General Edström with current topics concerning Finnish defense.

Lieutenant General Virtanen emphasizes the importance of Sweden as Finland's close partner in defence cooperation: 

- Sweden is a very close partner and an important ally for us. Cooperation between our defense forces takes place on a daily basis, both bilaterally and as a part of the alliance. We discussed, among other things, the current security situation, strategic planning topics as well as cooperation at the operational level. We have big things on the common planning table, such as the implementation of the NATO presence in Finland and the development of a logistical support network covering the Nordic countries. It is important that we exchange experiences as we integrate our defense systems into NATO. I thank my colleague for the good discussions.

Lieutenant General Edström describes the importance of Finland and Sweden's bilateral defence cooperation: 

- As close neighbors, long-standing partners and now NATO allies, the cooperation between the Swedish Armed Forces and the Finnish Defence Forces is built on a foundation of trust and shared values. Today’s discussions reaffirmed the strength of our bilateral ties and our collective commitment to the defense of our region and NATO’s shared security.The current security environment underscores the importance of seamless collaboration at all levels and functions. Sweden and Finland have a long tradition of working together, and as NATO allies, we are further deepening this partnership. The integration of our defense systems into NATO is a historic step, and I value the opportunity to exchange insights and experiences with my Finnish counterpart Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen. I want to thank Lieutenant General Virtanen for the constructive dialogue and for hosting this important meeting. Together, we are enhancing the resilience and security of our nations and strengthening NATO’s presence in northern Europe.