Finland Opens Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, together with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, Ms Federica Mogherini, were in Helsinki, Finland Monday to attend the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats. They were attending as guests of Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Juha Sipilä.

“The Centre will make an important contribution to our security,” the Secretary General said. “It will help nations and international organisations like NATO and the EU to better understand modern, complex threats and to strengthen our societies against them.”

The Centre is an initiative of the Finnish government, supported by 11 other nations, as well as NATO and the EU.

Meeting with President Niinisto and Prime Minister Sipilä, the Secretary General praised Finland for its contributions to international security, especially airspace security in the Baltic area, and expressed gratitude for the close partnership between Finland and NATO.

Secretary General Stoltenberg also spoke of the importance of closer cooperation between NATO and the European Union. “Our relationship has never been closer,” he pointed out.

NATO and the EU are working together on the response to hybrid challenges, cyber defence, security in the Mediterranean Sea and in other areas. According to a NATO statement, both organisations are working to expand this cooperation into new areas later this year.

Photo courtesy: NATO