Minister Anand to travel to Finland to advance Nordic partnerships and Arctic cooperation
News release
August 18, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will travel to Helsinki, Finland, on August 18 to advance Canada’s relationships with Nordic countries on shared priorities.
During Minister Anand’s first official visit to Finland as Minister of Foreign Affairs, she will attend the Nordic Five (N5) with Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Deepening our economic, security and regional cooperation with the Nordic states is a core pillar of Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy.
On August 19, Minister Anand will meet with Finland President Alexander Stubb to discuss increased Canada-Finland and Nordic cooperation, including enhanced economic and Arctic security collaboration.
During the visit, Minister Anand will also have bilateral meetings with Finland Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Sweden Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenegard and Denmark Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The meetings will focus on key foreign policy issues such as transatlantic security and support for Ukraine. They will also reinforce the strategic value of the Canada–Nordic relationship.
Canada will work with our allies to advance peace and security, including in the Arctic, which will be reinforced through Minister Anand’s visit.
Quick facts
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Finland, which holds the Nordic 5 presidency in 2025 and will host the Helsinki meeting, extended an invitation to Minister Anand to join the discussions. The meeting will build on the Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue that took place in Iqaluit in September 2024.
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Canada’s Arctic foreign policy supports the country’s sovereignty and promotes a stable, secure and prosperous Arctic.
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Canada and Denmark are deepening Arctic cooperation, especially through Greenland’s leadership in the Arctic Council and shared Inuit heritage.
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Canada and Finland work closely on Arctic governance, sustainable development, and Indigenous inclusion.
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Canada and Norway have been close partners since 1942, working together on multilateralism, human rights, climate, energy, and Arctic security.
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Canada and Iceland have a strong relationship with recent high-level visits and joint initiatives on trade, defence, climate and gender equality, additionally a Youth Mobility Agreement.
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Canada and Sweden are strengthening ties through increased engagement and shared priorities on security, innovation, climate, and Arctic cooperation.
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