Hanating

Hanating is Hanaholmen’s annual discussion forum for defence and security policy. Over the past two decades, Hanating has established itself as an important defence policy forum between Finland and Sweden, and the event plays a significant role in the bilateral defence debate. As the Finnish-Swedish cooperation in defence grows stronger, the need for more informal meetings at a high level is increasing. In this respect, Hanating offers the perfect conditions.

During Hanating, new meetings between ministers, parliamentarians and researchers are realised and the discussions are then carried on into the social debate in the form of journalistic analyses and new defence and security policy initiatives. The participants include politicians and experts from primarily Finland and Sweden, but also from the other Nordic countries. The purpose of the forum is to build trust and forge links between the participants.

The venue and the format mean that Swedish and Finnish representatives can exchange knowledge and ideas in confidence. A fantastic and beautiful environment allows for in-depth discussions on common challenges.
Swedish MP Karin Enström.

Hanating was the initiative of the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation. Hanating consists of a seminar for invited guests, preceded by a round table discussion with the countries’ defence committees.

Hanating 2025

Society, politics & business | 30.9.2025

Selected Hanating events

2019: The Development of EU Cooperation on Security and Defence
2020: The Future of Nordic Cooperation in Foreign and Security Policy
2021: Deepened defence cooperation between Sweden and Finland in a new geopolitical environment
2022: Defence cooperation between Sweden and Finland in a new era
2023: How should we deal with the Russian threat?
2024: Sweden and Finland together in Nato

Additional information

Tina Räihä

Project Manager (politics and society)

+358 (0)40 563 6846

tina.raiha@hanaholmen.fi