At the state level, security refers to the external and internal security of a country. An all-embracing concept of security also includes social, economic and environmental dimensions, as well as the safety and well-being of citizens.

Security policy includes defence policy and military defence, the main thrust of foreign policy, and partly also economic policy and societal policy (such as internal security).

Security policy can also be understood as an umbrella concept covering foreign policy and national defence (i.e. defence policy), aimed at safeguarding a properly functioning society.

The guidelines for foreign, security and defence policy are defined once during each parliamentary term in reports published by the Government.

The Government Report on Foreign and Security Policy was last published in 2020. The Government Defence Report based on it was published in 2021. The latest report on foreign and security policy was published in 2024.

According to the Report on Foreign and Security Policy, the objective of Finland’s foreign and security policy is to safeguard the independence and territorial integrity of the state, strengthen Finland’s international position, boost Finland’s security and well-being, and maintain the proper functioning of society.

National means and international cooperation aim to prevent the emergence of armed conflicts, situations that endanger Finland’s security and the functioning of society and, naturally, the prospect of Finland becoming involved in a military conflict. Finland participates in international cooperation in order to safeguard peace and human rights, and to promote the development of societies. The goal is a more stable, predictable and safe world.

A historic change took place in Finland’s foreign and security policy in spring 2022. It was caused by Russia’s initiation of armed conflict against Ukraine and Finland’s need to ensure its national security against the Russian threat. Finland abandoned decades-long military non-alignment and applied for the membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Read more in the menu Finland’s NATO membership (link).

The war in Ukraine also brought about a significant change in Finland’s traditional arms export policy, according to which military equipment is not exported to countries at war. However, the EU decided that Ukraine needed to be supported by arms deliveries, as a ban on arms exports to Ukraine would only serve Russia’s interests. In line with the EU’s common policy, Finland has delivered a large amount of defence materiel to Ukraine in addition to humanitarian aid, totalling approximately EUR 2 billion. Relative to the size of the economy (GDP), the amount of bilateral aid provided by Finland is among the highest in Europe.