The Finnish Defence Forces and NATO (link)

Finland became a NATO member state on 4 April 2023. As a NATO member, Finland is a part of alliance’s common defence. A NATO membership does not diminish the need for a strong own defence. Finland’s military defence remains the core task of the Defence Forces, and Finland continues to decide on the principles for the implementation of military national defence itself.

Participation of the Defence Forces in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (link)

Deepening the European Union’s security and defence cooperation will strengthen Finland’s security. Developing defence cooperation together with EU institutions strengthens the Member States, and thus Europe, as a global actor.

Military crisis management (link)

The conditions for participation in a crisis management operation

• The activities contribute to peace and security
• A Presidential decision, with support from the Government and Parliament
• As a rule, a decision of the UN Security Council on the conduct of the operation
• In exceptional situations, it is also possible to participate in other operations, such as the EU Battlegroups.

Finland has participated in more than 30 peacekeeping and crisis management operations since 1956. Such operations may be carried out by the UN or the OSCE, but also, for example, by NATO, the EU or the country leading the operation.

Participation in crisis management tasks is voluntary. The operations involve both enlisted personnel and reservists. According to the legislation, no more than 2,000 Finns may participate in operations at the same time.

Developing capabilities (link)

• participation in exercises and training
• placement of personnel in international headquarters
• ordering international assessments for the troops
• participation in EU, NATO and UN crisis management operations

Arms control (link)

Arms control agreements enable inspections and assessments as well as bilateral or multilateral military cooperation. Arms control measures and arms limitation agreements aim to limit and control weapons or military resources through various agreements and thus reduce military tensions. Finland is involved in several arms control agreements, such as the Vienna Document and the Open Skies agreement.

Standardisation (link)

The purpose of standardisation is to facilitate the society. Commonly agreed concepts and definitions speed up the work and reduce errors and misunderstandings. Multinational military interoperability and material compatibility are also built with the help of standards. It is important that the material used in international operations and exercises is sufficiently similar and that the same operating methods can be followed.

The Finnish Defence Forces offers domestic industry the opportunity to include its products in, for example, NATO’s materiel nomenclature, which facilitates the sale of Finnish products in countries participating in nomenclature activities. Almost 70 countries participate in nomenclature activities.

Participation of the Finnish Defence Forces in Nordic defence cooperation (link)

The Finnish Defence Forces cooperate continuously with the other Nordic armed forces. Nordic defence cooperation has a long history.

The objectives of cooperation are:

• Development of national defence capabilities
• Cost effectiveness
• Introduction of common solutions.

Initiatives for forms of cooperation can be taken at political level or within the armed forces. Ideas and initiatives are prepared in the NORDEFCO structure (Nordic Defence Cooperation).

Participation in JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force) cooperation (link)

The Joint Expeditionary Force is a multilateral defence cooperation framework led by the United Kingdom, consisting of ten countries: the Netherlands, Iceland, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Estonia. Finland joined the JEF in the summer of 2017, along with Sweden.

Exercises done within the JEF framework play a crucial role in the Finnish Defence Forces’ additional exercise activities. The JEF cooperation, along with other international exercise cooperation, improves the capabilities of all participant countries and is a part of the Defence Forces’ normal international cooperation.

Participation in Strategic air transport capability (link)

Through the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) project, Finland can utilise the capacity of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III heavy military transport aircraft.