Finland and Nato
Finland’s security environment changed fundamentally when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. After the invasion, Finland reassessed its security policy situation and applied for NATO membership.
Finland became a full member of NATO on 4 April 2023.
NATO membership will strengthen stability and security in Finland and throughout the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe. Finland’s strong defence capabilities and resilience to crises will also strengthen NATO and the collective defence of the Alliance.
As a member of the Alliance, Finland is part of NATO’s collective defence and is covered by the security guarantees enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. NATO membership also means that Finland is involved in decision-making on security policy questions that are essential for Finland.
Finland's goal is for Sweden to also become a NATO member as soon as possible. With Finland and Sweden as NATO members, the threshold for using military force in the Baltic Sea region will rise, which will enhance the stability of the region in the long term. Once Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, all of the Nordic countries will be NATO members. This means that the Nordic countries can advocate together for issues important to them within the Alliance.
What is NATO?
Founded in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a multilateral defence alliance and a key promoter of security and stability in Europe and the transatlantic community.
NATO has 31 member countries, 22 of which are also members of the European Union.
NATO’s principles are enshrined in its founding document, the North Atlantic Treaty, which was signed in 1949. The North Atlantic Treaty, also known as the Washington Treaty, consists of 14 articles.
Collective defence is NATO’s most important task
NATO’s fundamental goal is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. Its main tasks are to ensure collective defence, crisis management and cooperative security together with other organisations and states.
Under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, an armed attack against one member country is considered an attack against them all. NATO upholds the capacity of its member countries to meet the obligation for mutual assistance. This provides credible deterrence against the use or threat of military force against the Alliance.
If a NATO member country is attacked, each member country is obliged to assist by taking such action as it deems necessary, including the use of military force. In addition to collective defence, NATO’s core tasks include crisis management operations and maintaining an extensive partnership network.
NATO’s capability for collective defence is based on an integrated military command structure, a common defence planning process, operational plans and joint exercises. This ensures that NATO is able to defend its member countries if such a need arises. NATO’s military structure operates under the political steering of the member countries.
NATO member countries retain their national right to self-determination, and decisions within NATO are taken by consensus.
As a full member, Finland participates in NATO’s security policy debate and in developing NATO’s role as a foreign and security policy actor. Finland is also committed to the Alliance politically. Relations between NATO and Russia will also become a part of Finland’s relationship with Russia.
NATO membership will strengthen Finland's security, as Finland will become part of NATO's collective defence and will be covered by the security guarantees under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty. With NATO membership, the deterrent effect of Finland’s defence will be considerably stronger than before, as it will be based on the capabilities of the entire Alliance, on collective defence planning and on the political weight of the NATO member countries.
Membership will improve Finland’s military security of supply and the overall resilience of Finnish society.
Conversely, Finland’s strong defence capabilities and resilience to crises will strengthen NATO and the collective defence of the Alliance. Relative to its size, Finland has strong defence forces, a well-functioning comprehensive security model and, by international standards, a very strong willingness to defend the country.
As a NATO member, Finland is prepared to support other member countries in the event of a situation requiring collective defence. Each member country decides how and to what extent it will contribute if such a situation arises. Finland’s contribution to the collective defence of the Alliance has been negotiated in connection with the accession talks.
Member countries’ participation in crisis management operations is voluntary. The decision to deploy Finnish troops to NATO operations is always made at the national level. In addition, separate decisions are made concerning Finland’s participation in NATO’s peacetime missions to support collective defence and deterrence.
Finland participates in NATO-led crisis management operations aiming to promote stability and security. Membership will not involve major changes to Finland’s earlier participation in NATO’s crisis response operations.
Membership does not require Finland to host permanent NATO bases, troops or nuclear weapons on its territory. NATO member countries have full autonomy in deciding which military activities, bases or equipment they will host on their territory.
Some NATO member countries have placed national restrictions on NATO's activities. For example, in the early stages of their membership, founding members Norway and Denmark imposed unilateral restrictions on their membership and have not permitted permanent troops, bases or nuclear weapons of the Alliance on their territory during peacetime.
As a NATO member, Finland participates in implementing the Alliance's collective defence and deterrence. Finland will continue to decide on the implementation of its military national defence.
General conscription and an extensive, well-trained reserve will remain the foundation of Finland's defence. As a NATO member, too, Finland will maintain and develop its defence capabilities and continue its bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation.
As a NATO member, Finland will send personnel to work in NATO’s command and force structure, agencies, the International Secretariat at NATO Headquarters and the International Military Secretariat. More resources will be allocated to NATO activities also at the national level.
The grounds for conscription and women’s voluntary military service will not change as a result of NATO membership This means that membership will not affect the status of conscripts. The participation of Finnish reservists’ in the Defence Forces' activities outside Finland's borders is voluntary.
Professional soldiers and voluntary reservists will continue to be deployed to possible crisis management operations, as has been the case so far.
Each NATO member decides on the amount and allocation of its defence appropriations. Finland’s defence expenditure is proportionate to Finland’s defence needs.
NATO membership will involve additional direct costs arising, for example, from participation in the financing of NATO’s common budgets and from the secondment of personnel to NATO’s military command structure. The annual costs are estimated at EUR 70–100 million.
In addition, accession to the NATO Defence Planning Process and meeting the capability targets allocated to Finland as well as participating in NATO’s operational planning will cause significant additional costs for Finland.
As a member of NATO, Finland commits to spending approximately two per cent of its GDP on defence in line with NATO’s target. It is estimated that Finland will spend 2.38 per cent of its GDP on defence expenditure in 2023 and around two per cent in 2024 and 2025 as Finland will be financing strategic projects for the Navy and the Air Force.
Finland’s accession to NATO does not affect the demilitarised status of Åland, which is based on international conventions. The Åland Islands are part of Finland’s sovereign territory, and defending its neutrality is Finland's responsibility under the conventions. These conventions are not in conflict with the obligations of the North Atlantic Treaty.
As a NATO member, Finland will promote the development of cooperation between NATO and the EU.
The EU and NATO work in close cooperation in a variety of areas, including developing capabilities and military mobility, countering hybrid threats, promoting cyber security and countering terrorism. Military mobility refers to measures that facilitate the movement of soldiers and equipment from one location to another, for example in NATO or EU operations or exercises.