Work on new Government’s Defence Report has begun
The Ministry of Defence has launched the preparation of a new Government’s Defence Report, in accordance with the Government Programme’s objectives. The Government’s Defence Report will be submitted to Parliament after the Foreign and Security Policy Report, possibly in the course of 2024.
The Government’s Defence Report sets out defence policy guidelines for maintaining and developing Finland's defence capability, taking into account the effects of Finland's NATO membership. The Report discusses the integration of Finland's defence system into NATO's collective defence and deterrence and defines guidelines for Finland's defence policy and military role in the Alliance. The timeline of the Defence Report extends beyond the current parliamentary term and into the early 2030s.
The Government's Defence Report 2021
The Government’s Defence Policy Report to Parliament was adopted in a Government plenary session on Thursday 09 September 2021.
The Government Defence Report to Parliament provides the defence policy guidelines for maintaining and developing Finland's defence capability. The Report and its implementation ensure that Finland's defence capability meets the requirements of the operating environment.
The Government Report of Foreign and Security Policy (Publications of the Finnish Government 2020:32) has examined Finland's security policy environment and presented the goals and priorities of Finnish foreign and security policy. The focus of the analysis in the Defence Report is on defence policy and on military defence. The Defence Report was prepared in a cross-governmental cooperation, and the Parliamentary Monitoring Group was regularly consulted. The Defence Report guidelines cover a time period until the end of this decade.
The Defence Report and its implementation will ensure Finland's defence capability in an operating environment that is tense and unpredictable. The implementation will create the prerequisites for developing and maintaining a defence system that encompasses the entire country and all domains; it will outline the personnel requirements and economic resources required for maintaining readiness, for training of conscripts and reservists, and for developing new capabilities; and it will steer the development of international defence cooperation and national legislation.
The Government's Defence Report 2021 can be found in The Government´s Publications Archive ValtoThe Government Defence Policy Report 2017
The Government’s Defence Policy Report to Parliament was adopted in a Government plenary session on Thursday 16 February 2017.
The Report defines defence policy guidelines for maintaining, developing and using Finland’s defence capabilities. Through implementing the Defence Policy Report Finland secures its defence capabilities in a changing security situation, creates preconditions for maintaining a credible defence system that covers the entire territory and outlines the implementation of strategic performance projects. It will also improve the readiness of the Defence Forces and steer both the deepening of defence cooperation and development of national legislation. The timeline extends into the mid-2020s.
The Defence Policy Report was drawn up, for the first time, as a separate report. It follows the report by a parliamentary working group (the Parliamentary Office Publication 3/2014) and the Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy (Prime Minister’s Office Publication 7/2016). The Defence Policy Report has been prepared through broad-based cross-sectoral cooperation and also a parliamentary monitoring group was consulted.
The Government’s Defence Report PDF
Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2012
The Government's Security and Defence Policy Report 2012 gives special attention to topics in which significant changes have occurred since the report issued in 2009.
Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2009
The Government Security and Defence Policy Report 2009 provides a comprehensive evaluation of Finnish security and defence policy and lays down guidelines for the future extending into the latter half of the 2010s.
The Report is based on the comprehensive concept of security. In an interdependent world many security challenges and threats have far-reaching transnational impacts. Traditional security policy instruments and military defence alone will not suffi ce to respond to them but fresh approaches are also needed.
In the Report, an overview of the international situation is followed by an appraisal of how its changes affect Finland. Based on this overview, the Report provides guidelines for security and defence policy together with development needs and proposals for practical measures.
The Report lays a foundation for all reports, strategies and programmes that the Government prepares on security and international relations.
Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2009
Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2004 – Summary
Since the report of 2001, Finland's neighbouring areas have become more stable along with the enlargement of the European Union and NATO, the deepening of integration in the European Union and the transformation in Russia. At the same time, however, the broader international situation has become increasingly challenging for Finland as well, and this development has started to reflect more tangibly on Finland's security environment. This trend is expected to continue.
Global problems, development crises and regional conflicts have become increasingly significant for security. Along with globalization Finland's internal and external security has become increasingly dependent on the broad international situation. The key threats affecting security include terrorism, the threat of the proliferation and use of weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts and the use of military force, organized crime, drugs and human trafficking, economic and technological risks, environmental problems, population growth, population migrations and epidemics.
Security threats and challenges are increasingly cross-border in nature. In responding to them, therefore, it is crucial to increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation in neighbourhood relations, regionally and globally and establish procedures that are legally binding. The most important point for Finland in this context is the capability and influence of the European Union. The role of the United States, the development of the transatlantic relationship and NATO's role and activities are also of key importance. The issues that are accentuated in Finland's immediate vicinity are the transformation in Russia, the significance of the Baltic Sea region and military developments in neighbouring areas.
The line of action of Finland's security and defence policy is aimed at safeguarding the country's independence and society's fundamental democratic values and at promoting the security and welfare of all citizens. Finland's line of action is based on a credible national defence, the functioning of society, a consistent foreign policy as well as a strong international position and an active participation as a member of the EU. The key challenge for Finland's security and defence policy is retaining and strengthening the nation's capability in a changing environment, where global developments, regional conflicts and new threats have become of increasing significance to Finland's security.
The Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2004 -report together with a summary can be found below.
Summary (5 pages) (pdf) (29.49 Kb)
Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2004 (pdf) (1831.49 Kb)