TOKYO, Japan — Formalizing closer security ties, the governments of Japan and Finland officially signed a bilateral agreement regarding the transfer of defense equipment and technology on Monday.
The deal was finalized during a formal ceremony held at the Foreign Ministry building in Tokyo, executed by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen. This milestone follows an agreement made during a summit last June, where both nations committed to accelerating negotiations to establish the pact.
According to officials, the newly established agreement provides a legal framework to govern the secure transfer of defense technology and equipment between Tokyo and Helsinki. It also ensures strict controls to appropriately monitor third-country transfers and prevent the utilization of materials for unintended purposes.
During their bilateral meeting, Minister Motegi emphasized the deep interconnectivity of global security, stating that stability in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable.
In response, Minister Hakkanen expressed strong enthusiasm for deepening bilateral collaboration with Japan across the defense industrial and technological sectors.