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International conventions

This section contains in chronological order public international agreements, memorandums of understanding, framework arrangements and statements of intent concerning defence administration.



Memorandum of Understanding between Finland and Norway on Defence Cooperation

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen and the Norwegian Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram holding the Memorandums of Understanding.

Norway’s Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram and Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation between the two countries in Bodø, Norway, on 20 June 2024.

The Memorandum of Understanding replaces the framework agreement concluded between the countries’ defence ministries in 2021. The Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for defence cooperation between Finland and Norway.

Updating the cooperation documents between Finland and Norway into a Memorandum of Understanding between two allies will promote deeper bilateral cooperation and Nordic defence cooperation and strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence. 

Memorandum of Understanding: FINO MoU 2024 (pdf)

Letter of Intent on Finland's accession to the United States National Guard Partnership Program

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin, Chief of Defence Janne Jaakkola and Adjutant General of Virginia, James W. Ring.

On 2 May 2024, Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen and Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin signed a Letter of Intent on Finland's accession to the United States National Guard Partnership Program (State Partnership Program, SPP).

The National Guards in the United States are troops under the Governors of the states, used regionally in rescue, evacuation and protection missions. Virginia is Finland's state partner. The strength of the National Guard of Virginia is approximately 8,450, while the combined strength of all National Guards in the United States is approximately 340,000.

The SPP opens up new opportunities for the Defence Forces for exercises, training, deepening cooperation between sectors and competence development. Cooperation is carried out primarily within the framework of the Army, Air Force and the cyber sector.

Letter of Intent: Finland-VANG_aiesopimus_20240502 (pdf)


Political steering document for the Nordic defence cooperation, Vision 2030 for NORDEFCO

The Nordic Defence Ministers signing NORDEFCO Vision 2030.

The Nordic defence ministers signed the political steering document for the Nordic defence cooperation, new Vision 2030 for NORDEFCO, on 30 April 2024. The Vision will guide Nordic defence cooperation in the coming years.

The main focus of the Vision is on improving interoperability. Cooperation on capabilities and defence materials will be developed as well. The key areas for cooperation also include military mobility, logistics and security of supply.

NORDEFCO's Vision 2030: Vision for Nordic Defence Cooperation (pdf) (240 KB)


Statement of Intent between Finland and Sweden on support for Ukraine

Minister of Defence Mikko Savola and Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson are signing The Statement of Intent.
Photo: Alexandra Longfellow / United States Armed Forces

The defence ministers of Finland and Sweden signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) on support for Ukraine on 20.1.2023. According to the SoI, Finland supplies defence materiel to Ukraine, and Sweden expresses its readiness to support Finland as necessary. The defence forces of Finland and Sweden will review and, if necessary, update their operational plans. 

Their defence administrations have examined the support to Ukraine with necessary defence materiel to make sure that this would not endanger the national defence of the two countries. The joint support to Ukraine is a sign of deep mutual trust and increasingly close defence cooperation between Finland and Sweden.

The Statement of Intent: FISE_SOI_20_01_23 (pdf) (685.4 KB)


Updated trilateral Statement of Intent of Finland, Norway and Sweden

Defence Ministers of Defence of Norway, Finland and Sweden shaking hands.
Photo: Philip Lindner / Norwegian Armed Forces

Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen, Norway's Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram and Sweden’s Minister for Defence Pål Jonson signed the Statement of Intent (SoI) in Oslo, Norway, on 22 November 2022. The common goal of the renewed SOI is to enhance and strengthen operations planning among Finland, Norway and Sweden in areas of common concern, especially in the northern parts of Finland, Norway and Sweden as well as improve interoperability among the armed forces.

The Statement of Intent: SENOFI SOI (pdf) (74.7 KB)


UK-Finland Framework Arrangement on Enhanced Defence Co-operation

Photo: Tim Hammond

On 7 June 2022, the UK and Finnish Defence Ministers Ben Wallace and Antti Kaikkonen, signed a bilateral Framework Arrangement on Enhanced Defence Co-operation in Reykjavik.

Summary of the bilateral framework agreement between Finland and the UK (pdf)


Host Nation Support Memorandum of Understanding between Finland and Sweden


On 7 June 2022, the defence ministers of Finland and Sweden signed a Host Nation Support Memorandum of Understanding in Reykjavik. The Memorandum of Understanding strengthens Finland’s and Sweden’s defence and deepens bilateral cooperation between the two countries in all security situations, lays the foundation for operational cooperation in peacetime and will make agreeing on host nation support for exercises more flexible.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden concerning the provision of Host Nation Support for military activities


Host Nation Support Technical Arrangement between Finland and NATO


Finland and NATO signed a mutual Host Nation Support Technical Arrangement in Mons, Belgium, on 24 May 2022. On behalf of the Government of Finland, the document was signed by Lieutenant General Eero Pyötsiä, Chief of the Defence Command.

Technical arrangement between the Government of the Republic of Finland and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) (pdf) 


Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Policy Direction


The defence ministers of the JEF partner countries met in Helsinki on 30 June to 1 July 2021. They signed a political steering document guiding military activities, complementing the JEF Memorandum of Understanding adopted in 2018. On behalf of the Government of Finland, the document was signed by Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen.

JEF Policy Direction_Signed_30_06_21 (pdf) (1.6 MB)


Framework Arrangement between Finland and Norway

Defence ministers Frans Bakke-Jensen and Antti Kaikkonen signing FI-NO Framework Arrangement in Tuusula, Finland 29.6.2021.

Framework Arrangement concerning defence cooperation between Finland and Norway was signed by Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen and Norwegian Minister of Defence Frank Bakke-Jensen in Tuusula 29 June 2021.

Framework Arrangement between the Ministry of Defence of Finland and the Ministy of Defence of Norway concerning defence cooperation (pdf)


Statement of Intent on Enhanced Operational Cooperation among Finland, Norway and Sweden


Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen, Norwegian Minister of Defence Frank Bakke-Jensen and Swedish Minister of Defence Peter Hultqvist signed on 23 September 2020 in Lakselv, Norway, a Statement of Intent on Enhanced Operational Cooperation.

The signed Letter of Intent (pdf) (1.5 MB)


Memorandum of Understanding between Finland and Sweden on Defence Cooperation

FINSWE_MoU_Niinisto_Hultqvist090718

Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö and Swedish Minister of Defence Peter Hultqvist signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Finland and Sweden on Defence Cooperation on 9 July 2018 in Turku. 

FISE_MoU_FINAL (pdf) (411.1 KB)


Trilateral Statement of Intent among the United States of America, Finland and Sweden

dc3

Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö, the United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis, and Swedish Minister of Defence Peter Hultqvist signed a trilateral Statement of Intent (SOI) on 8 May 2018. The trilateral SOI complements and brings together previously agreed thematic entities; through cooperation it is possible, for instance, to make sure that overlapping activities or competitive situations are avoided in international exercises and trainings.

Trilateral Statement of Intent_FINAL (pdf) (951.2 KB)


Framework Arrangement for Estonian-Finnish Defence Cooperation between Estonia and Finland

The framework agreement regarding defence cooperation between Finland and Estonia was renewed on 18 January 2017 at the House of the Estates. The document was signed by Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö and Estonian Minister of Defence Margus Tsahkna.

FI-EE Framework Arrangement (pdf) (87.4 KB)


Memorandum of Understanding between the Nordic countries on the Establishment of Easy Access Framework Applicable in Peacetime

EASY_ACESS

The Nordic countries signed on 9 November 2016 A Memorandum of Understanding on facilitating easier access to each other's territories in peace time (Easy Access MoU).

NORDEFCO MoU Easy Access (pdf) (1.2 MB)


Statement of Intent on Bilateral Defence Cooperation between Finland and US

Statement of Intent

On 7 October 2016, a Statement of Intent on bilateral defence cooperation between Finland and the United States was signed by the Finnish Minister of Defence Jussi Niinistö and US Deputy Secretary of Defence Robert Work at the Finlandia Hall.

The Statement of Intent aims to deepen the bilateral defence cooperation and engage in this on a more regular and diverse basis. It is a general working document that is not legally binding on the parties and it contains no defence commitments between the countries. The implementation of the Statement of Intent is to be reviewed on a regular basis.

Statement of Intent (pdf) (590.7 KB)