Finland and Japan have signed an agreement establishing a legal framework for transferring defence equipment and technology between the two countries, paving the way for joint research, development and production projects. Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signed the agreement in Tokyo.
The agreement sets out rules governing the transfer and use of defence-related equipment and technologies, including safeguards against unauthorised transfers to third countries and use for purposes beyond those originally intended. It is designed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation while supporting the development and maintenance of both countries’ defence industrial and technological capabilities.
Under the agreement, projects involving the two governments can include collaborative research, technology development and the production of defence equipment. A joint committee will coordinate cooperation, providing a mechanism for the countries to manage initiatives and strengthen collaboration between their defence industries.
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The signing follows an agreement between the two countries’ leaders in June 2025 to accelerate negotiations on the framework. The new arrangement also comes as Japan reviews its defence export rules and seeks to expand international cooperation in defence technology.
During a separate meeting on October 26, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Häkkänen welcomed the agreement and agreed to deepen defence cooperation and exchanges. Both sides emphasised that security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is closely connected and requires continued coordination.
For Finland, the agreement could create opportunities for domestic defence manufacturers and technology companies to participate in collaborative projects with Japanese partners. For Japan, it establishes a formal mechanism for transferring defence equipment and technology to Finland while maintaining controls over how the transferred materials are used.
The agreement is part of Finland’s broader efforts to expand defence cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region. Finland signed a defence quality-assurance memorandum of understanding with South Korea in September 2026 and agreed with Australia on deeper defence cooperation.
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The Finland-Japan agreement therefore provides a foundation for future industrial and technological collaboration, although the governments have not announced specific joint production projects or financial commitments under the new framework.