The visiting US Secretary of Defense James Mattis on Monday reaffirmed that relations between Finland and the United States have never been stronger.

“We welcome the deepening bilateral and NATO defence partnership with Finland. In today’s conversations, we reaffirmed that relations between Finland and the United States have never been stronger,” Mattis said in a joint statement after holding a meeting with President Sauli Niinistö and at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.

During the hour-long conversation, Niinistö and Mattis discussed European security, defence cooperation between Finland and the US and the situation in North Korea.

After the meeting, Niinistö summed up the discussions, saying, “Secretary Mattis and I discussed just one issue, that is, the issue of peace. Our focus was on how to uphold peace around the world. Our thoughts on this issue are very similar.”

Niinistö also expressed his sincere condolences for the shooting which took place in Texas on Sunday.

Mattis congratulated the president and the people of Finland on the country’s 100 years of independence. He also thanked Finland for its contributions to peacekeeping, promotion of human rights, and global coalition to defeat ISIS and countering hybrid threats.

“You have shown that you are serious about the defence of your freedom and independence, also demonstrated by your commitment to Nordic defence cooperation and by assuming the Chair of the Arctic Council,” Mattis said.

During his visit to Finland, Mattis is scheduled to attend a working session of the Northern Group defence ministers. The meeting will discuss Northern European security and regional and transatlantic defence cooperation.

In addition to the Nordic and Baltic countries, the Northern Group comprises the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Poland, and Germany.