Government Defence Report outlines development of Finland's defence as part of NATO
At its session on 19 December 2024, the Finnish Government approved the Government Defence Report based on Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen's presentation. The report will now be submitted to Parliament. This is the third ever Government Defence Report and the first published since Finland joined NATO. The guidelines set out in the report extend into the 2030s.
"The years ahead will be strongly characterised by preparedness. We will continue to strengthen Finland's defence. This will be based on four pillars: homeland defence capability, NATO's deterrence and defence, defence cooperation, and total defence," Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.
The Defence Report states that Russia has stepped towards a more open, unpredictable and protracted confrontation with the West. Russia will continue to pose a long-term security threat to Europe and Finland. Finland is on NATO's external border. As such, it is important that Finland takes care of its own defence capability as part of the Alliance and that the Alliance's deterrence and defence meets the demands of the threat environment.
"We will strengthen Finland's ability to counter broad-spectrum influencing, resist military pressure and fight potential large-scale wars that could drag on for years. We will reform national defence while also bringing the major ongoing projects in our Air Force and Navy to the finish line. We will create conditions for implementing the Alliance's collective defence in Finland. Military service, a large reserve, and a strong will to defend the nation will remain the foundation on which Finland's defence is built. Finland's principle of total defence means that our defence relies on strong support from society," Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.
According to the Defence Report, Finland's membership in NATO has raised deterrence. Finland is supported by the forces and capabilities of the entire Alliance, including its nuclear deterrence as a last resort.
"Finland will continue to sustain and develop its strong defence capability in all security situations. It is the core of everything we do, and we will not compromise on it. At the same time, Finland's defence is an integral part of NATO's collective defence. We will plan, exercise and prepare our defence together with our allies," Minister Häkkänen said.
The Ministry of Defence has led the preparation of the Government Defence Report since autumn 2023 in consultation with a cross-government working group. The process has also involved close cooperation with a parliamentary monitoring group for over a year.
"We are developing Finland's defence with wide political support that spans across government terms. I value the fact that we have a broad consensus on security issues in Finland. It sends a strong message to allies and partners as well as to potential adversaries. This report shows that Finland takes defence seriously," Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.
Inquiries:
Requests for interviews with the Minister of Defence: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 140 109.
Communications: Niina Hyrsky, Director of Communications, tel. + 358 295 140 120.
Working group of the Government Defence Report: Janne Kuusela, Director General, Chair, tel. +358 295 140 300, Markku Viitasaari, Director of the National Defence Unit, Vice-Chair, tel. +358 295 140 330, and Karoliina Honkanen, Ministerial Adviser, Secretary General, tel. + 358 295 140 354.
The full text of the Government Defence Report is available on the website of the Ministry of Defence at:
Finnish: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-663-423-7
Swedish: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-663-455-8
English: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-663-471-8