Finnish foreign minister to visit US for Euro-Atlantic security talks

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen will visit Washington on Thursday to hold talks with US officials on the war in Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security.

Valtonen is set to meet her American counterpart Marco Rubio to discuss bilateral ties, the war in Ukraine, and Euro-Atlantic security, the Finnish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The US is a "key ally and strategic partner" for the Nordic country, Valtonen said ahead of the visit.

"Cooperation between Europe and the United States is of paramount importance when it comes to strengthening Euro-Atlantic security and making progress towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine," she said.

Valtonen will also discuss topical foreign and security policy issues with representatives of the Trump administration and US Congress in Washington.

"There should not be barriers to trade between allies. Instead, we need more free trade and deeper economic cooperation to boost our competitiveness on both sides of the Atlantic," she said.

The visit comes amid tensions between the US and EU over tariffs, critical comments from senior US officials about Europe, and uncertainty about American support for Ukraine.