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Minister Anand concludes successful visit to Finland to strengthen partnerships between Canada and Nordic countries

Global Affairs Canada

News release

August 20, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, concluded her visit to Helsinki, Finland, where she strengthened Canada's ties with Nordic partners and advanced transatlantic cooperation to achieve Canada's objectives with respect to its Arctic Foreign Policy.

Minister Anand met with Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and announced the establishment of a Canada-Finland strategic partnership on foreign and security policy. This initiative reflects the two countries' commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and advancing joint efforts in transatlantic security, cyber resilience, multilateralism, democracy, climate action, open trade and promoting shared values in the North Atlantic regions. Minister Anand also held a high-level meeting with Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, during which they discussed increased Canada-Finland cooperation.

In addition, Minister Anand visited Helsinki Shipyard with Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, to highlight Canada and Finland's joint efforts to boost Arctic capabilities, strengthen regional security and safeguard the Arctic through innovation and strategic cooperation.

During her visit, Minister Anand also met with counterparts from the "Nordic Five"—Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland—to discuss transatlantic security, support for Ukraine and economic cooperation. She met with Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation between Canada and Denmark and Canada and Sweden, as well as regional security and NATO engagement.

Quick facts

• Canada and the Nordic Five share strong democratic values and a commitment to the rules-based international order. Together, Canada and the Nordic Five advance shared priorities in transatlantic security, support for Ukraine and economic cooperation.

• Canada's Arctic Foreign Policy promotes sovereignty, stability and prosperity in the region.

• Canada and Denmark are enhancing Arctic cooperation, including through Greenland's role in the Arctic Council and shared Inuit heritage.

• Canada and Finland collaborate on Arctic governance, sustainable development and Indigenous inclusion.

• Canada and Norway have partnered since 1942 on multilateralism, human rights, climate issues, energy and Arctic security.

• Canada and Iceland have maintained strong ties through recent high-level visits and joint work on trade, defence, climate issues, gender equality and youth mobility.

• Canada and Sweden are deepening cooperation on security, innovation, climate issues and Arctic issues.