President Karis: Estonia and Finland view hybrid threats and our response to them in much the same way

In meeting with his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö in Helsinki today, President Alar Karis spoke about collaboration in NATO, regional security, hybrid threats on the eastern border and how better to protect critical infrastructure. The Estonian head of state thanked President Niinistö, whose time in office is coming to an end, for his friendship, his unstinting cooperation and his promotion of bilateral relations.

"Finland and Estonia are very close neighbours, in every sense, and we enjoy warm and friendly relations," President Karis remarked during the meeting. "We work together in every field imaginable, and since last year we have also been allies in NATO. That closeness, it has to be said, is a thorn in the side of the other neighbour we share, who keeps testing the resilience of the alliance's eastern border with hybrid attacks." The head of state confirmed that Estonia and Finland take a very similar view of these hybrid threats and their response to them.

"Russia is, and will remain, the biggest threat to our security, which is why we must work even more closely together in the area of defence," he said. "We must strive to maintain transatlantic unity and to adapt NATO's defence and deterrence posture to the needs of our region. Our countries' views of the security situation are closely aligned, which is why it makes sense for us to enhance our cooperation. Our aim is to reinforce defence and deterrence on NATO's eastern flank while ensuring that Sweden's membership is finally ratified and pressing ahead with Ukrainian accession."

President Karis also spoke with his Finnish counterpart about the importance of transatlantic cooperation. "The Member States of the European Union must contribute to the expansion of partnerships in all areas where bilateral action between the EU and the USA can be further developed," he advised.

While in Helsinki, the Estonian head of state also met with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, with whom he likewise discussed Russia's hybrid attacks on the eastern border, support for Ukraine and cooperation in NATO. He argued for the continued international isolation of Russia and further raising the cost of their aggression. "As border countries, we must show the way when it comes to the EU's sanctions policy and put forward solutions that will prevent Russia from bypassing the sanctions imposed on them," he urged.

President Karis also stressed the importance of bolstering those international institutions responsible for guaranteeing peace and security, noting the need to reform the UN Security Council.