Shaken by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and seeking stability in a shifting international order, Japan and Finland on Tuesday agreed to significantly expand their security cooperation.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and her Finnish counterpart Elina Valtonen met in Helsinki, their joint press conference revealing a strengthened security pact and a shared commitment to Tokyo’s “Nordic diplomacy initiative.” This ambitious collaboration aims to bolster ties with Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden on multiple fronts, encompassing not just security but also crucial areas like Arctic research, gender equality, and environmental initiatives.
FM @elinavaltonen: Pleasure to host my Japanese colleague, Foreign Minister @Kamikawa_Yoko in Helsinki. Japan is an important likeminded partner for Finland. We continue to support #Ukraine and strongly condemn #DPRK’s destabilising cooperation with Russia. 🇫🇮🤝🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/6u6c4bMTwu
— MFA Finland 🇫🇮 (@Ulkoministerio) January 9, 2024
Finland’s historic decision to join NATO in May 2022, a direct response to Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine, aligns its security outlook with Japan’s. Both nations, while geographically distant from Russia, share concerns about its military activity and see stronger alliances as vital to regional and global stability.
Kamikawa’s visit to Finland marks a historic milestone, becoming the first Japanese Foreign Minister to visit the Nordic nation since 1985. This trip, coupled with her ongoing two-week tour through Europe, North America, and Turkey, demonstrates Japan’s active engagement with key partners amidst global anxieties about geopolitical instability.