Nordic countries and Canada pledge to deepen cooperation

The Nordic countries and Canada agreed to intensify their cooperation at the Nordic-Canadian Summit in Oslo on Sunday 15 March.

“It is important for Finland to further deepen cooperation with Canada and our Nordic partners. We are united by our northern location and our shared values,” said Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

The prime ministers’ discussions focused on topical international issues, such as support for Ukraine, Arctic security, Russia and the Middle East. 

In a joint statement issued after the summit, the Nordic countries and Canada pledged to continue their unwavering support to Ukraine in the form of economic, military and humanitarian assistance. They called on all members of the Coalition of the Willing to do the same.

“The security situation in Ukraine is linked to the security of Europe as a whole and to that of the Euro-Atlantic area more broadly. We prime ministers who met today in Oslo are committed to supporting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

An important topic of discussion at the Oslo summit was how to promote preparedness and security in the Arctic region.

“I reminded my colleagues that a significant part of Finland’s border with Russia is located in the Arctic. This means that Arctic defence begins at the Finnish border. Canada and the Nordic countries have already made significant investments in Arctic security. With our shared expertise, we can support our other NATO allies in enhancing their own Arctic capabilities,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

In the joint statement released after the prime ministers’ summit, the Nordic countries and Canada highlighted their commitment to advancing Arctic security, for example by supporting NATO’s efforts to bolster its presence in the region, and agreed to develop stronger defence industry cooperation. 

The Nordic countries and Canada also intend to intensify cooperation on trade and investments. Together, the countries want to build a competitive, prosperous and clean economy that is open to international trade.

Inquiries: Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. +358 295 160 978 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU and International Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 07 33