President Alar Karis emphasized the central role of Estonian-Finnish defence cooperation in the security of both countries and the defence of the Baltic Sea region during a meeting with cadets at Finland's National Defence University in Santahamina together with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.

“There are no limits to defence cooperation between Estonia and Finland, whether in joint planning, operations, exercises, or procurement,” said President Karis. “The next step is to expand this strong partnership across the entire Nordic-Baltic region. Together, we are a credible military force and a strong deterrent, helping to build a more capable European pillar within NATO.”

President Karis also highlighted the important role that the Santahamina National Defence University has played in the development of Estonia's Defence Forces.

“In the 1990s, the first Estonian officers received their training here, and even today several of the top leaders of our Defence Forces are graduates of this institution. These ties make our cooperation natural and based on trust,” said the Estonian Head of State.

President Karis also spoke about Finland's influence on the development of Estonia's defence model.

“Following Finland's example, Estonia has developed a comprehensive approach to national defence, including a strong conscription and reserve system, which has provided a solid foundation for our defence capabilities,” President Karis noted.

Earlier in the day, President Karis participated in a business seminar for defence industry companies. In a debate with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, he emphasized the need to deepen cooperation between defence industries, reduce bureaucracy, and simplify procurement procedures.

“The question is not whether cooperation will deepen, but how quickly and how ambitiously we can take it to the next level. Joint procurement is already taking place, but the next step is joint production and cross-border supply chains,” said the Estonian President.

“The key is attracting private capital, making financing more accessible for companies, and supporting risk-taking. In addition, we need to reduce bureaucracy and simplify procurement processes.”

President Karis also referred to recent drone incidents in Estonia and Finland.

“The recent drone incidents in Estonia and Finland were a stark reminder that new technologies are changing warfare faster than our systems can adapt. Two clear conclusions follow from this: first, supporting Ukraine remains the most direct contribution to our own security. Second, we must develop a shared sensor and early-warning network,” the Head of State stated.