> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.mgg-geopolitics.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Australia and Finland explore defence industry pact as troops train Ukrainians - URL: https://www.mgg-geopolitics.com/australia-finland-defence-industry-mou-ukraine-training/ - Published: 2026-10-23T11:37:07.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T11:37:07.000Z - Author: MGG Geopolitics - Tags: Europe, Indo-Pacific, News, Technology Australia and Finland are exploring a new defence industry agreement and arrangements for sharing classified information as they expand military cooperation across Europe and the Indo-Pacific. In a joint statement issued on 23 October, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Finnish counterpart, Antti Häkkänen, agreed to examine a Defence Capability Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening industrial cooperation and supply chains. The announcement comes as Australian and Finnish military personnel work alongside one another training Ukrainian troops under the multinational Operation Legio in Poland. The ministers said the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific was increasingly interconnected, calling for closer cooperation between countries facing common security challenges. ## Australia and Finland train Ukrainian troops Operation Legio is a Norway-led programme involving Nordic and Baltic countries, Poland and Ukraine. It provides training and equipment to Ukrainian land forces, including at Camp Jomsborg in Poland. Australia announced in June that Australian Defence Force personnel would join the programme from mid-2026, continuing support previously delivered under Operation Kudu. The 23 October statement confirms that Australian and Finnish personnel are now working alongside one another to train Ukrainian forces. Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine following Russia's invasion, identifying military training and equipment support as shared priorities. The cooperation gives Australia a direct role in a European-led military training initiative while strengthening operational links with Finland, which joined NATO in 2023. ## F-35 cooperation offers another avenue Air-force cooperation is also expanding. Finland participated in Australia's Exercise Pitch Black from July to August 2026, while Australian observers are scheduled to attend Finland's Exercise Protective Fence in November. The ministers highlighted opportunities arising from their countries' shared F-35 fighter programme. Australia operates the F-35A Lightning II, while Finland is introducing the same aircraft type as it replaces its ageing F/A-18 Hornet fleet. Common aircraft could provide opportunities for cooperation in training, tactics, maintenance and sustainment, although the statement announced no specific new F-35 agreement. The existing exercise relationship provides a foundation for exploring those possibilities. ## Defence industry agreement under consideration The proposed Defence Capability MoU is intended to support closer industrial cooperation, including advanced technologies and more resilient supply chains. Marles and Häkkänen said they wanted to draw on the complementary strengths of their domestic defence industries and expand collective manufacturing capacity. They also agreed to explore how the two countries could share classified information to support deeper cooperation. Such arrangements can be important for sensitive defence research, equipment development and industrial partnerships, but neither a new information-sharing agreement nor the proposed MoU has been finalised. The announcement builds on Marles's visit to Helsinki in June, when Häkkänen identified opportunities for closer cooperation between Australian and Finnish defence companies and technology businesses. Both governments also welcomed Australia's growing engagement with NATO and the European Union on defence and technology matters. The latest statement reflects a wider effort to link European and Indo-Pacific defence partnerships through practical military cooperation and industrial collaboration. The next test will be whether the proposed MoU and classified-information discussions lead to formal agreements, joint projects or new procurement opportunities. For now, the relationship has gained momentum through Ukraine training and military exercises, while its longer-term industrial ambitions remain under negotiation.