Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen visited the Middle East
Finland's Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has made an official visit to the Middle East. The trip took place in Lebanon and Israel and lasted from September 13 to 18, 2026.
The purpose of the visit was to discuss the security situation in the region and to strengthen Finland's international relations. During his trip, Minister Häkkänen met with local authorities and discussed current defence policy issues.
In Lebanon, the Minister focused specifically on topics related to regional stability and peacekeeping. Finland has traditionally been an active participant in international peacekeeping operations, and the visit underscored Finland's commitment to global security cooperation.
The discussions held in Israel emphasized defence cooperation and the relations between the two countries. The visit is part of Finland's broader effort to closely monitor developments in the Middle East, which also have implications for the wider international security environment.
The trip concluded on September 18 and provided the Ministry with up-to-date information on the situation in the region. The Finnish Ministry of Defence will continue its active monitoring and cooperation with partner countries to promote security.