The Philippines has expressed its interest to expand its defense ties with Finland.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. conveyed this during the introductory meeting with Finnish Ambassador to Manila Saija Nurminen on April 2, DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said in a news release Monday.

“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,” he 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,” the DND spokesperson said.

Andolong said the meeting between the two officials ended with Teodoro expressing the DND’s interest in enhancing its cooperation with Finland, particularly in conjunction with the Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept in areas relative to defense supply chain management. (PNA)