THE Philippines looks forward to stronger defense collaboration with Finland.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. raised this sentiment during a meeting with Finnish Ambassador to Manila Saija Nurminen on April 2, according to Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong.
“Secretary Teodoro remarked that Finland’s geography and history have cultivated its robust resilience to threat actors within its region. He noted that this has led to Finland’s advanced capabilities in securing its defense supply chains,” Andolong said.
Nurminen expressed Finland’s willingness to cooperate with like-minded countries, like the Philippines, that uphold a rules-based international order.
“She mentioned that Nokia, a known Finnish multinational company, is interested in supporting the Philippines’ Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Program,” Andolong said.
He also said the meeting concluded with Teodoro expressing the DND’s interest in strengthening cooperation with Finland.
He emphasized potential collaboration aligned with the Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, particularly in areas related to defense supply chain management.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Philippines seeks to strengthen defense ties with Finland.”