Territorial sovereignty is an essential element in national sovereignty. Finland’s territorial sovereignty is constantly monitored and to secure it, force will be used if necessary. The goals of territorial surveillance at the national borders are to prevent, discover and clear up territorial infringements and violations of territorial sovereignty. Territorial surveillance is divided in ground surveillance, sea surveillance and air surveillance.
In matters pertaining to the Territorial Surveillance Act, the Ministry of Defence is the highest authorising body. It decides on the use of military force to secure territorial sovereignty and it steers the territorial surveillance authorities of the Defence Forces.
