Finland and Denmark want to increase the countries' defence cooperation, according to Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) and Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
Lund Poulsen, who also serves as Denmark's deputy prime minister, said examples of closer cooperation could mean joint procurements and military exercises.
The pair made the comments as Häkkänen hosted the Danish minister on Monday, as the pair visited southeastern Finland's Karelia Brigade in Kouvola — the Army's largest brigade-level unit. The ministers were also scheduled to visit the Vaalimaa border crossing checkpoint.
Denmark joined Nato as a founding member in 1949, while Finland joined the alliance in 2022.
Both Finland and Denmark have been making major defence investments recently. Häkkänen and Lund Poulson were set to discuss how Finland plans to overhaul its land defence forces over the next decade.
"We invested more than 10 billion euros in land defence equipment and infrastructure," Häkkänen explained.
He also underscored that Finland's cooperation with the US, for example in defence materiel procurement, is functioning well.
"We have a very good understanding with the USA's new defence [secretary], and that cooperation will continue for a good, long time," he said.
Meanwhile, Lund Poulsen noted that Denmark would have nothing against Finland selling the icebreakers that US President Donald Trump has said he wants the United States to procure.
Finland 'not first' to send troops
Earlier in the day Häkkänen said that due to Finland being located directly on the Russian border, it would not be the first country to send troops on an eventual peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
"Due to our geographical location [and being] a frontline country, we have to be very careful in terms of troops and participation. We support credible [peacekeeping] arrangements, but we would not be the first to participate," Häkkänen said.
The minister made the comments at the opening of the National Defence Course in Helsinki on Monday.
European Nato countries have already initiated plans to send troops to Ukraine in order to secure an eventual ceasefire. For example, the UK has already announced it is prepared to send troops to Ukraine and combat aircraft to its airspace.
Over the weekend, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) said it was clearer than ever that it is time for Europe to take leadership of the continent's security.
The PM's comments came after US President Donald Trump berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a furious exchange in front of the press at the White House on Friday.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb characterised the shouting match in the Oval Office as a win for Vladimir Putin. Stubb also said it was important for Russia to come under increasing pressure.
Future still unpredictable
Meanwhile, Häkkänen said he expects that important decisions about additional support for Ukraine will be made at an extraordinary European Council meeting on Thursday.
"Now is the very last moment for European countries to make a decision on additional assistance," Häkkänen said.
The Finnish defence minister described the heated exchange between Trump and Zelensky on Friday as historically catastrophic.
However, Häkkänen does not think the US has completely withdrawn its support for Ukraine, adding that it will be particularly important for Finland to focus on Ukraine's post-war era over the next few weeks.
In his comments at the National Defence Course, the minister noted that the EU's collective GDP was 10 times higher than Russia's, adding that EU countries spend around 290 billion euros on defence annually.
Meanwhile, Russia spent less than 95 billion euros on defence before it invaded Ukraine just over three years ago.
However, Häkkänen noted that the threats posed by Russia have increased due to its transition to a war economy.
He said the future was still unpredictable, due to Russia's increased ability to manufacture defence materiel, the country's 700,000-member military and an unpredictable leadership model that only believes in power politics.
