PM, 4 EU leaders for boosting defence to counter Russian threat

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and a group of European leaders at a meeting in Finland during the weekend stressed the importance of strengthening European defence in order to counter the threat from Russia, said a government press release on Sunday.

Orpo hosted the meeting in Saariselkä, Lapland on Saturday and Sunday where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Greek Prime Minister Kyriákos Mitsotákis, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas took part.

“We had a broad-based, wide-ranging exchange of views on security. It is rare to be able to speak informally and confidentially about these matters in a small group,” said Orpo.

He also said that they gained a deeper understanding of the situation in southern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The working sessions at the summit focused on the European security environment and migration.

The leaders also heard a briefing on the northern security dimension by Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces Janne Jaakkola.

In their discussions on migration and the instrumentalisation of migration, the leaders explored the topic from the perspective of the EU’s long external land border to the north and with regard to the southern routes.

Italy and Greece face particular pressure due to migration in the eastern Mediterranean.

Major General Matti Sarasmaa from the Border Guard shed light on the challenges posed by instrumentalised migration at Finland’s eastern border.

Orpo noted that there are key differences between instrumentalised migration in the north and south of Europe. For example, migrants seeking to enter Finland are intentionally channelled to the border by Russia, whereas in the south, organised crime and human smuggling are often involved.

“What we have in common with the southern Member States is that we are working to protect our external borders and those of the European Union as a whole,” the Finnish Premier said.

While in Lapland, the EU leaders also met Santa Claus, visited a reindeer farm and took part in a variety of recreational activities.