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President and Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discuss Finland’s crisis management participation, NATO partnership, China, and Government’s Defence Report 

Government Communications Department
Publication date 21.5.2021 12.50 | Published in English on 21.5.2021 at 16.41
Press release 329/2021

On Friday 21 May 2021, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed issues relating to international crisis management. Finland currently has approximately 360 soldiers participating in ten military crisis management operations within the framework of the UN, the EU, NATO and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

The President and the Ministerial Committee agreed that, in line with the policies set out in the Foreign and Security Policy Report and the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Crisis Management, Finland will strengthen its crisis management participation in Africa by preparing to gradually increase its participation in the EU military training mission in Mali. The President and the Ministerial Committee stated that Finland would  take part in the Very High Readiness element of the NATO Response Force (NRF) with an infantry company in 2023 and an EOD diver unit in 2024 . Finland has participated in the NRF's Response Forces Pool since 2012, and it is an important part of Finland’s partnership cooperation with NATO.

The President and the Ministerial Committee received an overview of developments at NATO and current issues related to Finland’s NATO partnership. Finland will continue its close partnership cooperation with NATO.

In addition, the President and the Ministerial Committee discussed the governmental action plan on China 

The meeting also discussed the preparation of the Government’s Defence Report.

Inquiries: Tanja Jääskeläinen, Deputy Director General, tel. +358 295 350 303, Piritta Asunmaa, Director General (China), tel. +358 295 350 353, Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Esa Pulkkinen, Director General, tel. +358 295 140 300, Ministry of Defence

Anna-Maja Henriksson Annika Saarikko Antti Kaikkonen Jussi Saramo Pekka Haavisto Sanna Marin Ville Skinnari
 
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