Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and his Finnish counterpart Antti Häkkänen discussed today, Wednesday, in the capital Helsinki, the enhancement of bilateral cooperation, European-Atlantic security, and countering hybrid threats.
In this context, the Italian "Aki" agency quoted Crosetto as saying that the strategic centrality of the Baltic regions, the Arctic, and the far north was emphasized regarding security, navigation, protection of trade routes, and vital resources.
For his part, the Italian minister pointed out that the meeting included an affirmation of Italy's tangible commitment to the region, through the participation of the armed forces in North Atlantic Treaty Organization "NATO" exercises.
Crosetto added that another aspect of his country's commitment is its participation in the "Cold Response 2026" exercises and in air policing missions to defend the alliance's airspace on the eastern flank, where Italy is the largest contributor.
Enhancing European Defense
The Italian-Finnish meeting addressed the enhancement of European defense complementary to NATO, based on greater political coordination, common requirements, integrated capabilities, military mobility, and appropriate financial instruments.
Countering Hybrid Threats
In this context, the two sides discussed activities related to "countering hybrid threats, cognitive warfare, and media disinformation," alongside industrial and technological cooperation in the sectors of space, maritime, and undersea domains.
Crosetto clarified that the goal of this cooperation is to consolidate the European industrial base and develop joint capabilities.
Security Shifts in NATO
These Italian-Finnish consultations come at a time when North Atlantic Treaty Organization "NATO" countries are experiencing rapid defensive and security transformations.
NATO had predicted last July that total defense spending by member states during 2026 would reach an unprecedented level, amounting to approximately 1.809 trillion dollars.
The report indicated that this increase represents a rise of about 11% compared to 2025.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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