Tasks and Objectives

As one of the Ministries of the Finnish Government and a leading authority in the area of national defence, the Ministry of Defence is in charge of the national defence policy and national security as well as international cooperation in defence policy matters. The Parliament which uses legislative power, the President of the Republic and the Government are key actors in defence policy. The Ministry of Defence steers defence policy and coordinates tasks that are connected to the comprehensive defence approach in the central government.

In addition to providing guidelines for the Defence Forces, the Ministry of Defence is responsible for the resources and operational preconditions of military national defence. The Ministry of Defence steers the development of Finland's defence as a member of the EU and NATO and in international defence cooperation. It oversees defence policy, the budget, defence materiel acquisitions as well as the legislation of defence administration, personnel policy and personnel development. To ensure national interests the Ministry bears the responsibility for taking part in international crisis management and European security structures.

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for coordinating the comprehensive defence approach and the will to defend the country. It provides on request executive assistance to other authorities.