European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius visits Helsinki on Friday for talks with Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (both NCP).
Former Lithuanian prime minister Kubilius is discussing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposal for a ‘drone wall’ along the EU’s eastern border.
Finland, which has the EU’s longest border with Russia, supports the idea and is "contributing actively to the discussions on how the drone wall should be built in practice," according to a government statement on Friday.
The commissioner will also confer with Finnish ministers on other steps toward greater European defence and security and the Union’s long-term defence funding, as well as Finland’s defence industry capabilities.
"Planning and implementation of the drone wall are progressing at a good pace," Orpo said in the press release, adding that "the recent drone sightings in Europe underline the importance of building the drone wall."
Foreign Minister: "No reason for major concern"
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) downplayed worries about recent drone sightings.
"In principle, this is not new or alarming, unless we see that this is happening more systematically and that there is an actor behind it who is trying to influence our societies," Valtonen said at a press conference in New York late Thursday.
She said that authorities in Finland and Denmark have "strong powers" to investigate such matters.
Valtonen said she had discussed the situation with her Danish opposite number, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, on Wednesday. This week, unidentified drones have been spotted over several airports in Denmark and Norway.
"There is no reason for major concern now," Valtonen said.
Valtonen briefed Finnish reporters after taking part in the UN General Assembly meetings in New York. She attended along with President Alexander Stubb, Foreign Trade and Development Minister Ville Tavio (Finns), Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala (NCP) and Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (NCP).
