Kristersson has spent the weekend in Saariselkä in northern Finland for what is described as an informal top meeting with Finland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the EU's Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas.
The five leaders agree that, considering the turbulent world, greater investments in defense are required.
Russia poses a direct threat to European security, but security consists of different elements and looks different in the east, north, south, and west. But we can tackle these issues together, says Kallas.
Demand for 5 percent
The US President-elect Donald Trump will demand that NATO countries allocate at least 5 percent of their GDP to defense, according to recent reports in the Financial Times.
We are naturally all curious about the new American administration, says Kristersson after a question from TT.
It is obvious that European countries, individually and collectively, must strengthen their defense. We cannot have the US as our primary defense guarantor in the long run, he continues without wanting to comment on the 5 percent figure specifically.
"Need to spend more"
Petteri Orpo agrees that investments are needed, but says it is not a question of figures.
It must be based on security and alliances. We must work within NATO to find the right level, he says.
According to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the current recommendation of 2 percent is likely history.
We need to spend more than two percent.
