President of the Republic and Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s participation in training cooperation in Iraq and training and exercise cooperation with the USA

On Friday, 6 February 2015, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed Finland’s participation in the international security sector training cooperation in Iraq. Finland will continue preparations for participation in training activities in northern Iraq with a contingent of up to 50 soldiers. The Parliament will be consulted through the submission of a report on the matter in accordance with the Act on Military Crisis Management.

The United States will send a visiting air force detachment to Ämari air base in Estonia in March-April and has offered Finland and Sweden the opportunity for joint training. Finland has considered the offer based on its own training needs and has decided to carry out training with the US as well as Swedish air detachments over the Gulf of Bothnia in international airspace or in Finnish and Swedish airspace.

Further information: Kirsti Kauppi, Director General, tel. +358 295 351 561, Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Esa Pulkkinen, Director General, tel. +358 295 140 300, Ministry of Defence