Finland
Changed security environment
A significant change occurred in the security and operational environment of Finland, the Nordic countries, and Europe when Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The war in Ukraine continues, and there are no indications of rapid changes in the current situation. The front lines may fluctuate, but Russia poses a long-term threat to Europe. Finland has delivered 23 defence aid shipments to Ukraine, totaling nearly two billion euros in value.
The European Union must continue to support Ukraine and its people for as long as necessary through political, financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic means. The EU has allocated a support package of 50 billion euros for Ukraine for the years 2024-2027, including 17 billion euros in grant assistance and 33 billion euros in loan assistance. This support aims to aid the country's recovery, reconstruction, and integration into the Union.
Ukraine needs the continued strong support of the European Union, its member states, and the United States. If the support is not sufficiently robust, the consequences will be visible on the battlefield.
The implications of the changed security situation are continuously assessed in Finland as well. Preparedness is being strengthened according to the comprehensive security model, requiring investment in crisis resilience, security of supply, internal security, cyber security, countering hybrid influence, and securing critical infrastructure.
Finland’s national defence
In March 2024, I visited the Nordic Response exercise in Northern Finland and Northern Norway. Sweden and the United States also participated in the exercise. Intensive training with our allies is part of our normal operations. Through this, we strengthen our deterrence and security. During the exercise, Sweden's NATO membership was also confirmed. It was great to see firsthand how well our cooperation functions. I was also pleased with the high motivation of our reservists and conscripts.
Finland's national defence will continue to be the foundation of Finland's defence. This includes general conscription, a trained reserve, defending the entire country, and a high national defence spirit. Finland has up-to-date equipment and skilled defence personnel. Defence resources have also been strengthened in recent years. In terms of maritime defence, the Squadron 2020 project is constructing four Pohjanmaa-class multipurpose corvettes by 2028. These vessels will be used for year-round and long-term presence at sea in all Baltic Sea weather conditions – including all ice conditions. The Air Force is leading the introduction of F-35 multi-role fighters.
Maritime surveillance capabilities have been and will continue to be strengthened. The sabotage targeting the critical infrastructure of the Baltic Sea is a good example of the need for adequate monitoring of underwater activities as well. This decade will also see the introduction of a new surface-to-surface missile system, torpedoes enhancing underwater warfare capabilities, and modernized mines. In addition to a strong national defence capability, Finland has strengthened its security through diverse international cooperation.
Finland becomes a Nato member state
Since 1994, Finland has participated in the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Partnership for Peace program and, since 2014, in the Enhanced Partnership in line with NATO's closest partners. From the perspective of military cooperation, diplomatic rapprochement, and our own national defence capability, the prerequisites for Finland's full NATO membership were strong.
Because of Russia's attack on Ukraine, the process of Finland's full NATO membership began. The Finnish government presented a report to the parliament on the change in the security environment, and thus, the parliament committed to Finland's path towards NATO membership. At the same time, Finland laid the groundwork for membership through discussions with alliance member states to ensure support for Finland's membership.
Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine in March 2022, the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, and the President of the United States, Joe Biden, agreed to deepen Finland's defence cooperation with the United States. As Minister of Defence, I visited the United States a week later. I continued negotiations on the same topic with Defence Minister Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon. Our cooperation has deepened since then, and the parliament will soon approve the bilateral DCA defence cooperation agreement between our countries.
The Finnish parliament voted on Finland's application for NATO membership on May 16, 2022, with a vote of 188-8. Membership came into effect on April 4, 2023.
Finland as a Nato member state
As part of NATO's arrangements for Northern European defence both the Baltic Sea region and the Arctic region must be considered. In its first year of membership, Finland has integrated into NATO structures, defence planning, and alliance training activities. Finland is committed to the security of the entire alliance and participates in NATO's peacetime tasks.
These tasks also enhance Finland's interoperability with allies. Finland will participate in NATO's standing mine countermeasure task in the Baltic Sea with the Katanpää-class vessel with a maximum of 40 personnel in April and May. Finland will also participate in air surveillance tasks in the Black Sea in the summer with an eight-aircraft squadron and a maximum of 100 personnel.
In the future, Finland should consider participating in NATO's peacetime tasks with Land Forces. Finland already has strong national land forces. Finland and Norway are the only eastern NATO countries without NATO Forward Land Forces. The development of the security environment must be closely monitored, and Finland must be prepared, if necessary, to host NATO Land Forces in peacetime conditions.
Finland's NATO membership doubled the alliance's border with Russia. Russia is now targeting Finland with hybrid influence through instrumentalized migration. Ensuring security along the eastern border is a shared concern of Finland, the European Union, and NATO.
The northern and Arctic regions are important focal points for Russia. Russia has significant military capabilities on the Kola Peninsula, and we are likely to see further investments in the future. The military-political significance of the Arctic region is growing.
Deepening cooperation in the Baltic Sea reagion
The Baltic Sea region is critical for the security of the Nordic countries. With Sweden's NATO membership, all Nordic countries are now NATO members, deepening Nordic defence cooperation and strengthening stability in Northern Europe. From a defence planning perspective and with the growing significance of the Arctic region, it is natural that all Nordic countries are integrated into NATO's Norfolk command structure.
Sweden is one of Finland's most significant partners. With both countries as a NATO member, cooperation is deepening further. With Finland and Sweden's NATO membership, comprehensive cooperation covering all Nordic countries within the alliance also strengthens the position of the Nordic countries as NATO members. The trilateral defence cooperation initiated in 2018 between Finland, Sweden, and the United States complements the promotion of security in the Baltic Sea region. Central to this is the development of defence policy dialogue, information exchange, and interoperability.
The United States is the most significant external actor in Northern Europe. The DCA agreement between Finland and the United States is a continuation of the previous good cooperation with the United States. The DCA agreement between Finland and the United States provides the framework and legal basis for regular defence cooperation between the two countries. The agreement also creates conditions for intensifying cooperation if the security situation requires it. The United States is an important and close ally for Finland. Defence cooperation with the United States enhances Finland's defence capability.
The security environment continues to deteriorate. This requires all EU and NATO member states to invest in defence with at least a 2% share.
It is also possible that military tensions will become more evident in the Baltic Sea region. Russia may increase its various activities in the area. Our cooperation with the Baltic countries and other NATO countries in the Baltic Sea region must be seamless so that we can face the challenges of the future.