18.4.2024 | In its plenary session on Thursday 18 April, the Government appointed Pasi Rajala, Master of Social Sciences, and Antti Salminen, Information Systems Auditor, to serve as state secretaries. Pasi Rajala will serve as State Secretary to Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, and Antti Salminen as State Secretary to Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman.

Members 2023 - CHAIRPERSON: MP Jarno Limnéll (NCP) DEPUTY CHAIRPERSONS AND THEIR PERSONAL DEPUTIES: Assistant to a MP Marika Sorja (TF) (Master of laws, assistant to a MP Ismo Nöjd (TF)) MP Tuula Väätäinen (SDP) (Head of communications Miia Järvi ...

21.1.2026 | NORDEFCO Annual Report 2017 2 NORDEFCO Annual Report 2017 FOREWORD.............................................................................................3 NORDEFCO in a nutshell...................................................................

International conventions This section contains in chronological order public international agreements, memorandums of understanding, framework arrangements and statements of intent concerning defence administration. The technical arrangement betw...

Excerpts from the History of the Ministry of Defence The building of the Ministry of Defence of Finland in the year 1983. Photo: Helsinki City Museum / Lauri Putkonen With the decree issued on 14 June 1918, the War Department was established in th...

21.1.2026 | NORDEFCO Annual Report 2023 Contents Foreword 3 Nordic Defence Cooperation at the policy level 4 Military Coordination Committee activities 9 Denmark’s chairmanship of NORDEFCO 2024 13 Sweden held the NORDEFCO chairmanship in 2023 and this report ...

6.7.2023 | In its plenary session on 6 July, the Government appointed Master of Social Sciences Lauri Tierala as State Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen. His term of office will begin on 6 July and continue for the duration of the Ministers' term of office.

Return to page Areas of expertise Finland’s membership in NATO Finland’s security environment was fundamentally altered when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Based on a reassessment of the security policy situation, Finlan...

18.6.2026 | The United States’ Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll will pay a working visit to Finland on 18–19 June 2026. Finland’s Ministry of Defence is hosting the visit.

27.6.2019 | On Thursday 27 June, the Government appointed Master of Science in Agriculture and Forestry Kimmo Tiilikainen as the State Secretary of the ministerial group of the Centre Party. The Government also appointed Master of Social Sciences Saila Ruuth as State Secretary to the Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen starting on 22 July 2019, Committee Counsel, Master of Laws with co...

4.12.2024 | In line with the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo's Government, Finland's Cyber Security Strategy has been revised to respond to the changed security environment. The objectives of the revised strategy extend to 2035. A strategy implementation plan has been drawn to describe the development measures to achieve the objectives. The plan was approved on 3 December 2024 by the steering group of the project developing an operating model for government security management.

27.5.2026 | 1 1 Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI) ANNUAL REPORT 2025 Approved by the Work Branch on 8 May 2026 GENERAL INFORMATION The Advisory Board for Defence Information (ABDI) acts as a parliamentary forum that organises dialogue on security ...

21.1.2026 | www.turvallisuuskomitea.fi 16.6.2017 1 14.6.2017 Secretary General Vesa Valtonen The Finnish Concept for Comprehensive Security www.turvallisuuskomitea.fi From Total Defence to Comprehensive Security Concept SVF 2003 www.turvallisuuskomitea.fi “Th...

7.1.2021 | In its plenary session on Thursday 7 January, the Government appointed Anna-Mari Vimpari (M.Soc.Sci.) State Secretary to Ministers Annika Saarikko, Matti Vanhanen, Jari Leppä, Mika Lintilä and Antti Kaikkonen from 7 January 2021 onwards. The State Secretaries’ terms end with those of the ministers.

15.4.2026 | The Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), coordinating materiel support for Ukraine, held a video conference on Wednesday 15 April 2026.

23.4.2026 | ​​​​​​​On 23 April 2024, the Finnish Government submitted to Parliament a proposal to amend the Nuclear Energy Act and the Criminal Code. The Government proposes to remove the legal barriers on importing nuclear devices into Finland and on transporting, supplying or possessing them in Finland in the context of Finland’s homeland defence, the collective defence of NATO or defence cooperation.

11.1.2022 | Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence to visit Finland Ministry of Defence Publication date 11.1.2022 16.00 Type: Press release Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace visits Finland on 12 January. During his meeting with Minister ...

21.1.2026 | Prime Minister’s Office: Publications 18/2004 PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2004 Government report 6/2004 VNS 6/2004 vp Government report 6/2004 Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2004 Prime Minister's Office: Public...

Press releases and news Publication date: 09.07.2026 Anu Nousiainen appointed Director General of Administration Policy Department at Finland’s Ministry of Defence The Finnish Government has appointed Anu Nousiainen, M.Sc. (Admin.), as Director Ge...

3.5.2022 | UK Secretary of State for Defence to meet with Minister of Defence Kaikkonen Ministry of Defence Publication date 3.5.2022 19.17 Type: Press release Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace visits Finland and meets Minister of Defence ...