Baltic Sea Security Ministers Gather in Helsinki to Address Drone Threats
Interior ministers and representatives from nine Baltic Sea countries convened in Helsinki on 17–18 June to discuss growing drone-related security threats in the region. The meeting, part of the Baltic Sea Security Ministerial Group, was chaired by Finland’s Minister of the Interior, Mari Rantanen, and focused on joint measures to counter risks posed by drones to public safety, critical infrastructure, and national security.
Rantanen emphasised the urgency of regional cooperation, stating that "drone-related incidents do not respect national borders" and that "our cooperation is more important than ever in the changed security situation" (Finnish Ministry of the Interior). She also highlighted Russia as "the most serious security threat to Europe," underlining Finland’s strategic role in regional security.
Key Discussions and Agenda
The meeting addressed the European Commission’s Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security, which aims to strengthen cross-border preparedness. Key themes included law enforcement, critical infrastructure protection, external border control, and hybrid threats (Finnish Ministry of the Interior). Participants reviewed existing national efforts—such as Finland’s close collaboration between the police, Border Guard, and Defence Forces—and explored ways to enhance regional coordination.
Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs joined the discussions via video link, sharing the country’s extensive experience in countering drone threats. The Baltic Sea countries also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine, including through material assistance (Finnish Ministry of the Interior).
On 17 June, ministers attended a dinner in Helsinki, where they briefly met President Alexander Stubb to discuss the current security situation.
Finland’s Counter-Drone Investments
As part of its preparedness efforts, the Finnish government has allocated EUR 50.2 million in its supplementary budget to strengthen counter-drone capabilities. Of this, EUR 44 million will go to the Finnish Border Guard and EUR 6.2 million to the police, funding improved detection, identification, and countermeasures (Finnish Ministry of the Interior).
Press Conference and Industry Engagement
Following the discussions, ministers visited Sensofusion, a drone defence company in Vantaa, where a press conference was held. The event was attended by Rantanen and representatives from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany (Ilta-Sanomat). The press conference was livestreamed, allowing public access to the outcomes of the meeting.
