Japan and Finland have signed an agreement establishing a legal framework for the transfer of defence equipment and technology between the two countries, with the aim of expanding cooperation in research, development and production.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Finland’s Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen signed the agreement at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo on 26 October. Häkkänen was visiting Japan for discussions on defence and security relations.

The agreement sets out how equipment and technology transferred between the governments should be handled. It includes provisions for controlling transfers to third parties and preventing use outside the purposes authorised under the arrangement.

Japan’s foreign ministry said the framework is intended to support joint research, development and production projects in which both governments participate. It is also expected to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and help maintain and improve Japan’s defence industrial and technological base.

The agreement does not announce a specific weapons sale or identify equipment to be transferred. Instead, it creates rules for future cooperation and the handling of equipment or technology shared under the arrangement.

Following the signing, Motegi and Häkkänen discussed bilateral relations and regional security. Motegi said security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions was inseparable, reflecting the governments’ view that developments in Europe and Asia have wider strategic implications.

Separately, Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held talks with Häkkänen on 26 October. The two ministers welcomed the agreement and agreed to advance cooperation in defence equipment and technology, while continuing coordination on the security environment surrounding their countries.

The new framework formalises arrangements for future defence technology cooperation between the two governments.