As the war continues to ravage Ukraine, Helsinki Security Forum invites international decision-makers and security policy experts to Finland to discuss the global implications of the altered security environment in Europe.
The second annual Helsinki Security Forum (HSF) will be held on 29 September–1 October 2023. The theme of this year’s HSF is Deter, Defend and Secure – Europe in the Era of Radical Uncertainty.
Helsinki Security Forum, organised by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), brings together leaders and foreign policy experts to address current international security issues from the perspective of Northern Europe. Most of the discussions will be livestreamed.
HSF was launched last year in an unprecedented security situation. Previously, Europe Day on 9 May has been a celebration of peace and unity in Europe. Today, that has been challenged by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
“The war in Ukraine has changed Europe forever. The entire continent has been moved to a new era of radical uncertainty, where the assumption of the absence of war in Europe no longer holds”, says Mika Aaltola, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
“While this day may not be a celebration of peace, unity among European countries has never been more important.”
Helsinki Security Forum 2023 is organised with support from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ministry of Defence of Finland, the City of Helsinki and Patria.
“As the most recent NATO member, Finland plays an influential role in sculpting the European security landscape. HSF offers a valuable platform for discussions related to the global implications of resilience, deterrence, and defense from the perspective of the European north”, says Kukka-Maria Kovsky, Conference Director of HSF.
Finland has played a key role in discussions related to European security and defense – most recently during President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s visit in Helsinki and the Nordic-Ukrainian Summit. The visit was hosted by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, who also acts as the patron of the Helsinki Security Forum 2023.
Updates to the programme of this year’s event will be published on HSF’s Twitter and website as well as FIIA’s social media channels. Sign up to follow the livestream of HSF 2023 here.
For more information, please contact:
Kukka-Maria Kovsky
Conference Director, Helsinki Security Forum
Head of Strategic Partnerships, FIIA
+358 9 432 7718
kukka-maria.kovsky@fiia.fi
Video can be found also in Youtube.