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High Level Group of NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group meets in Helsinki

2026-10-22T10:43:00Z

“NATO is developing its nuclear deterrence to meet the challenges of the security environment. This will strengthen the security of the Alliance and Finland. Finland is actively involved in this work and brings genuine added value to the Alliance, and our Allies appreciate this,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

While the strategic nuclear forces of the Alliance remain the supreme guarantee of the security of the Alliance, Allies stressed that NATO’s nuclear deterrence is based on their burden sharing. This is supported by the enduring commitment of all Allies to NATO’s deterrence and defence, which demonstrates the unity and determination of the Alliance. The fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression.

Allies thanked Finland for its strong commitment to the Alliance and confirmed that Finland has strengthened NATO’s deterrence and defence from the moment of its accession.

Inquiries: Tiina Raijas, Ministerial Adviser, tiina.raijas@gov.fi.

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Finnish Government awards EUR 18.3 million in grants for TNT production facility

2026-10-09T11:34:00Z

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen made the decision on 9 October 2026.

The United States has granted financial support for the production facility project, and this support is channelled to Forcit through the grant awarded by the Finnish Government. The Ministry of Defence made public the United States’ support for the project on 15 September 2026.

The new TNT production facility will produce TNT for Finland’s and NATO’s needs and will enable long-term support to Ukraine.

Inquiries: Frans Peltonen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 021.

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Finland to deliver urgent defence materiel assistance to Ukraine

2026-10-09T08:37:00Z

The overall value of the package now delivered to Ukraine is around EUR 1 million. It contains items of a single defence product donated from the Finnish Defence Forces’ stocks. Finland has already started preparations for the next, broader package. The total value of the defence materiel Finland has delivered to Ukraine has now reached EUR 3.6 billion.

“Finland speeded up this decision to deliver on an urgent request from Ukraine. We will not close our eyes to Ukrainians’ hour of need. Instead, we will stand with Ukraine and continue our materiel assistance deliveries,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

For operational reasons and to ensure that the delivery reaches its destination, more detailed information on the content of the assistance, manner of delivery or schedule will not be provided. Both Ukraine’s needs and the resources of the Finnish Defence Forces have been taken into account when deciding on the assistance.

Inquiries: Antti Vesala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 099.

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Six negative decisions on real estate transactions

2026-10-07T08:53:00Z

Those who applied for a permit to buy real estate in Kotka, Viitasaari and Miehikkälä were citizens of Russia, Montenegro and Israel, while the permit application for the real estate in Imatra was submitted by a company registered in Italy whose owners come from outside the EU and EEA. The applicants had different kinds of plans for the real estate, such as rental and recreational use.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the permit application for the real estate in Kotka was denied because the transaction could be considered a threat to national security and security of supply. The decision was based on the Act on Permit Requirements for Certain Real Estate Acquisitions.

In the case of Viitasaari, Miehikkälä and Imatra, the applications were rejected because, despite reminders, the applicants failed to supply the information and statements requested by the Ministry of Defence. The decisions were based on the Act on Permit Requirements for Certain Real Estate Acquisitions and the Administrative Procedure Act.

“A rigorous control of real estate transactions reduces security threats against Finland. In one of the cases, we prevented a transaction that could have had implications for Finland’s security because of the location of the real estate. In the other five cases, the applicants neglected their obligation to provide the Ministry of Defence with the statements necessary for security assessment. Failing to provide necessary statements is not a loophole to circumvent the permit process or prevent the Ministry from reaching a decision,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

The decisions are not yet final.

Any requests by media for access to documents should be sent via email to the Registry of the Ministry of Defence at kirjaamo.plm(at)gov.fi.

Further information can be inquired by email from the Ministry of Defence’s communications team at viestinta.plm(at)gov.fi.

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Finnish Government publishes results of foresight project on Russia’s futures: Finland and Europe must prepare for multiple possible futures for Russia

2026-10-06T07:01:00Z

The project results are presented in two publications: Russia’s Futures and a separate appendix that describes the key drivers of change affecting Russia’s development. Anyone interested can use and further develop the results.

The project prepared four alternative scenarios for Russia’s development by 2045: Renewing Russia, Fading Russia, Imperialist Russia and Chaotic Russia. Besides the scenarios, the ministries also publish related impact assessments and a set of measures considered important regardless of which scenario, or combination of scenarios, emerges.

Since Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine, the operating environment has become significantly more uncertain. The project identified 22 drivers of change affecting Russia’s development and 14 key uncertainties and used them as the basis for the scenarios.

The appendix to Russia’s Futures is a collection of the key drivers of change affecting Russia’s development, covering the perspectives of foreign policy, society, the economy, technology, the environment and military developments. Key areas of analysis include the persistence of great-power thinking, demographic challenges, economic and technological dependencies, the effects of climate change and the growing militarisation of security policy. Russia’s trajectory is not examined in isolation, but as part of a wider international context shaped by changes in the global operating environment and the actions of other states and actors.

Four alternative scenarios for Russia in 2045

Based on the identified drivers of change and uncertainties, the scenarios outline alternative but plausible futures for Russia up to 2045:

Renewing Russia: a pragmatic regional power that seeks broader influence through a combination of competition, cooperation and incentives;
Fading Russia: a weakening regional power that remains outwardly defiant but loses some of its influence and becomes increasingly dependent on China;
Imperialist Russia: an authoritarian and expansionist regional great power that relies on power politics and succeeds in achieving its key foreign policy objectives;
Chaotic Russia: a nuclear-weapon state, engulfed in a deep internal crisis, that persists with its risk-taking and its violent and militaristic policies despite the deterioration of its capacities.

Preparing for multiple possible futures for Russia

“The project’s key conclusion is that Finland and Europe must prepare simultaneously for several possible futures for Russia. Russia’s development, as well as the broader operating environment, is shaped by the combined effects of multiple concurrent changes, crises and uncertainties. Preparedness must therefore be based on the examination of alternative scenarios rather than on any single assumption about Russia’s future direction,” says Ministerial Adviser Terhi Ylitalo, coordinator of the foresight project.

The project was carried out as a foresight exercise, applying the foresight methods used in the preparation of the Government Report on the Future. The purpose of foresight is not to predict the future or assess the likelihood of individual scenarios. Instead, it seeks to identify alternative futures, risks, opportunities and preparedness needs, as well as ways of influencing developments.

The project also identified several measures that are relevant regardless of the scenarios and Russia’s actual development. These include strengthening anticipatory preparedness, Russia expertise and strategic foresight; containing Russia’s aggression and supporting Ukraine; enhancing security and resilience; safeguarding freedom of decision-making and economic and technological resilience; managing climate and environmental risks; strengthening the European Union’s capacity to act; and supporting the rules-based international order.

Part of a long line of Russia projects

The Russia’s Futures project is the latest addition to a series of projects focusing on Russia, the previous ones being Russia of Challenges (2007–2008), Russia of Changes (2011–2012) and Russia of Power (2018–2019).

The Ministry of Defence was responsible for the overall coordination of the project, and dozens of experts, researchers and public officials took part in its different phases. Their work was supported by a group of experts from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The purpose of the project is to support the foresight efforts of authorities, research institutes and other actors and to stimulate discussion on Russia’s possible futures and their implications for Finland. The project results can be used in foresight activities, security environment analyses, strategic planning, policy preparation, national preparedness development and international cooperation.

Publications

The final report of the foresight project Russia’s Futures and its appendix Key Drives of Change Affecting Russia’s Developments are available in Finnish in the Institutional Repository for the Government (Valto). Translations into English will be published later.

Russia’s Futures (in Finnish)

Appendix to Russia’s Futures: Key Drivers of Change Affecting Russia’s Development (in Finnish)

Inquiries:

Terhi Ylitalo, Project Coordinator, Ministry of Defence, terhi.ylitalo(at)gov.fi, tel. +358 295 140 143.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen: Finland’s F-35 fighters will give us security, jobs and industrial capabilities

2026-10-01T08:27:00Z

“We have successfully entered the home straight of this historic programme now that the first next-generation fighters have arrived in Finland. Integrating the F-35 fighters into our defence system is a crucial improvement to our own performance and to that of the Alliance here in the north. The F-35 programme will also strengthen Finland’s industrial capabilities: already, more than 30 Finnish companies have joined the effort, creating an estimated 5,000 person-years of employment. Patria will manufacture front fuselages for other users as well. F-35 engines will be assembled and maintained in Finland. Our contribution to 5G technology will boost our security of supply and create new business opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Minister Häkkänen described the arrival of the first F-35 fighters as a historic day. He drew parallels with the Hornet decision in the 1990s. Finland is committed to sustaining its defence capability despite a challenging economic climate. The F-35 programme is worth more than EUR 10 billion, and it will strengthen deterrence and defence for both Finland and NATO. All the Nordic countries under NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFCNF), and more than 700 fifth-generation fighters across Europe contribute formidable air power to joint operations.

Speech

Inquiries:

Antti Vesala, Senior Adviser to the Minister of Defence, tel. +358 504 710 883

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Finnish and United States defence administrations to extend their research and development agreement

2026-10-01T07:16:00Z

The agreement defines the general terms and conditions for initiating, conducting and managing research, development, testing and evaluation projects between the defence administrations of Finland and the United States.

The agreement enables the Finnish and US defence administrations to make the best use of their respective research and technology development capacities and eliminates unnecessary duplication of work. It creates opportunities for joint defence materiel procurements, improves the cost-effectiveness of both research and technology development and procurements and strengthens Finland’s technological competence. It also encourages interoperability, promotes the export opportunities of Finnish companies and creates new or improved military capabilities.

Inquiries: Laura Sinisalo, Senior Specialist for Legal Affairs, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 081.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen calls off participation in JEF ministerial meeting

2026-10-01T04:53:00Z

Among the topics on the meeting agenda is strengthening defence in Northern Europe (Ministry of Defence press release on 29 September 2026).

Inquiries: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 415 444 967.

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Finnish Army to boost mobility of northern forces

2026-09-30T09:00:00Z

The new tracked vehicles are designed specifically to meet the needs of forces operating in northern conditions. They have been developed as part of the EU-supported project European Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armoured Systems (FAMOUS) since 2021. The total value of the contract, excluding value added tax, is EUR 13 million.

New capability for the Finnish Army

The Finnish Army wants the new tracked vehicles to be capable of supporting the deployment of forces across wide areas. Therefore, the vehicles need to have greater range and higher speed for moving troops and equipment. The planning and design were guided by Finnish Army capability requirements, with a particular emphasis on outstanding tactical mobility and strong operational mobility. Other requirements included protection from shrapnel, mines and small-arms fire, and the capability to operate off-road in forested terrain, on load-bearing peatlands and in deep snow.

The vehicles’ primary role is to transport troops under protection to their assigned missions. In typical operations, units must be able to move several hundred kilometres in a single day with all their equipment. This means that each vehicle must be capable of carrying, in addition to its crew, a full infantry section and its equipment (2+10 soldiers). The vehicles can be operated in darkness using night-vision equipment without the aid of visible lights. They can cross shallow rivers and, when required, larger bodies of water. Their self-protection systems include the ability to provide fire support against unarmoured ground and aerial targets and enemy infantry. The vehicles are also equipped with smoke-screen capabilities and an integrated drone capability.

Extensive field trials before service entry

The Finnish Army will test the pre-series vehicles for one year at the Kainuu Brigade. A jaeger platoon equipped with the vehicles will pilot their operational use, beginning with the 1/2028 contingent of conscripts. The field-trial phase will include collaboration with the Swedish Army, which will be testing its own pre-series vehicles at the same time.

“This procurement will deliver a tangible improvement in the mobility and operational capabilities of our northern forces, something that is essential for stronger security in the Arctic region. Having a domestic supplier will also strengthen our military security of supply. The collaboration with the Swedish Army is a practical example of our day-to-day cooperation with Sweden, which continues to deepen,” says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

“As a member of NATO, Finland views the northern area of operations as a single entity where the infantry may be operating in a variety of terrain, from treeless fells of the far north to the sparsely roaded regions fragmented by Lapland’s rivers and lakes and to the forested terrains further south. We must be able to operate effectively in all these terrain and conditions, which places unique demands on the Army’s mobility capabilities. The new Finnish tracked vehicles demonstrated strong performance in the pre-procurement field tests. Our extensive trials in northern conditions will give a comprehensive picture of the vehicles’ capabilities, as well as of any further development needs, before decisions are made on potential serial procurement,” says Colonel Ari Mure, Inspector of Infantry at Army Command Finland.

Inquiries: Colonel Ari Mure, Inspector of Infantry, Army Command Finland, tel. +358 299 800 (Finnish Defence Forces’ switchboard).

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen: The EU’s SAFE instrument will create new opportunities for Finnish companies on Europe’s defence markets

2026-09-30T08:01:00Z

SAFE is a financial instrument of the European Union that provides Member States with EUR 150 billion in loan funding, encouraging joint procurement from the defence industry in the EU or Ukraine. Finland has announced that its loan request will total EUR 1 billion in 2026–2030.

“We aim to make full use of the EU funding. We will harness the SAFE loans to strengthen several key capabilities,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

“Europe has realised that we must ramp up our defence industry production and respond to the threat posed by Russia. SAFE is a powerful tool that will concretely enable Europe to scale up defence investments faster than any individual Member State could ever do.”

One project that has already materialised and for which Finland will be seeking funding is the Finnish Defence Forces’ procurement of SAR satellites from the Finnish company ICEYE.

“These satellites allow us to create a sovereign space intelligence and surveillance capability for the Finnish Defence Forces. ICEYE satellites can collect images and monitor any location on Earth in all weather and lighting conditions. The data generated can also be used by other authorities,” Minister Häkkänen said.

The plan is also to use the SAFE loans to finance multinational joint procurement to strengthen Finland’s ground combat capabilities and improve our drone capabilities in cooperation with Ukraine and our allies.

“Improving our drone capabilities and counter-drone capabilities is one of the key issues of modern warfare. Ukrainians’ know-how is among the best in the world in this respect. I am pleased that our cooperation is stepping up in this field.”

For the Finnish defence industry, the primary benefit of the SAFE instrument is the potential for more orders through joint procurements with partners. An added benefit of being part of the SAFE instrument and meeting the requirements for European industry is the strategic recognition of Finnish projects in the EU’s defence industry policy.

Inquiries: Jesse Kosonen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 126.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen to attend JEF defence ministers’ meeting in Iceland

2026-09-29T05:45:00Z

“We have a very important meeting ahead of us. A group of close allies will be planning how to strengthen the defence and security of Northern Europe. The security situation in Europe, JEF support to Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic cooperation will be among our topics. JEF is a multilateral defence cooperation framework of great importance for Finland, and its role is highlighted by the current security situation,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen says.

Canada will also attend the meeting. In the margins of the meeting, Minister of Defence Häkkänen will meet the new UK Secretary of State for Defence, Wes Streeting, for the first time.

“The meeting with the new UK Secretary of State for Defence is an opportunity to plan how we can further deepen defence cooperation between our countries,” Minister Häkkänen says.

The UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a multilateral framework for defence cooperation, formed by ten countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Through their cooperation, the JEF Participating Nations aim to develop military capabilities, prevent various crises and, if necessary, act together in crises. The main operating environment is Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region.

Inquiries: Joonas Laito, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 071.

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Finland and Ukraine sign Drone Deal to boost their defence and security cooperation

2026-09-23T15:50:00Z

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested the agreement to Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo when the two met in Armenia in early May. Finland and Ukraine negotiated the agreement during the summer and early autumn under the leadership of the Finnish Ministry of Defence.

“Ukraine has developed its defence capability and industry in ways we can learn a lot from in Finland. This new agreement both supports Ukraine’s defence and is a concrete step towards preparing Finland’s defence industry and defence forces for a new, more technologically sophisticated era of warfare,” Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said.

“For months, the Finnish Ministry of Defence has been negotiating this agreement intensively with Ukraine. We found a way to advance both our countries’ objectives. This agreement will open significant opportunities for both the Finnish defence industry and for strengthening Ukraine’s defence capability. It will bring our excellent cooperation to a whole new level,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

The aim of the agreement is to deepen defence and security cooperation between Finland and Ukraine and to strengthen both countries’ defence capabilities, industrial cooperation and technological development. It will facilitate cooperation between the countries’ administrations and industries.

The agreement will enable Finland and Ukraine to transfer technology and knowledge, pursue research, development and innovation cooperation and promote joint manufacturing and drone technology development between their industries. Another objective is to simplify administrative processes, for example regarding the granting of export authorisations, to make the transfer of defence materiel and technologies between the two countries as efficient as possible.

President of the Republic Alexander Stubb and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the agreement on 23 September 2026 in New York.

Inquiries: Olli Ruutu, Director General, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 400. Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Antti Vesala, Special Adviser, tel. 358 504 710 883.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen visits Middle East

2026-09-18T08:50:00Z

In Lebanon, Minister of Defence Häkkänen met commanders of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and Finnish peacekeepers serving there. In 2026, Finland is celebrating its 70 years of engagement in international crisis management operations and missions.

“Finland has a long history of peacekeeping, and we are very proud of the professionalism of our peacekeepers. The skills and experience they have gained abroad also benefit the defence of Finland. One objective of this visit is to show our appreciation and respect for the work our current and former peacekeepers have done for crisis management and for Finland’s security,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

In Lebanon, Minister of Defence Häkkänen also met Lebanese President Joseph Khalil Aoun and Minister of National Defence Michel Menassa.

In Israel, Minister Häkkänen met Israeli Minister of Defence Israel Katz. Häkkänen learned about Finland’s future air defence system, David’s Sling, as well as about Israeli civil defence solutions. He also visited companies producing systems that have been procured for the Finnish Defence Forces.

Inquiries: Antti Vesala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence, tel. +358 50 511 4844.

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Public consultation round launched on act on international cooperation of Finnish Defence Forces

2026-09-18T08:12:00Z

“We must have legislation that gives the defence administration the best possible support in the changed security environment. The project aims to ensure that our legislation is up to date when it comes to personnel who participate in international cooperation and fit for purpose when it comes to the conscription system,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

According to the draft bill, Finnish citizens could give the Finnish Defence Forces a written commitment to participate in international cooperation. Such persons would be appointed to a fixed-term public-law employment relationship with the Defence Forces.

The objective is for the Finnish Defence Forces to be able to assign sufficient personnel for comprehensive participation in international cooperation and for the terms of employment to be consistent and unambiguous across international tasks.

An increasing number of persons liable for military service are expected to serve in international contexts. Therefore, the provisions of the Conscription Act on service abroad would be amended so that persons liable for military service could be assigned to participate in international military exercises or training, or perform related service duties, without their express consent if the training or exercise was directly associated with the defence of Finland and took place abroad close to Finland.

The aim is to make it easier to train and exercise those liable for military service outside Finland in neighbouring areas. In practice, this would mean the Baltic Sea as well as Sweden and Norway, because they are directly connected to the defence of Finland through their NATO membership and geographical location.

The draft bill also proposes amendments to the provisions on reservist training so that the maximum total duration of training would be 200 days for all reservists, regardless of military rank. The aim is to ensure the maintenance and continuous development of reservists’ skills and competence.

The bill would implement the objective set out in the 2024 Government Defence Report to review the legislation for the purpose of ensuring the resources necessary for the new duties of the Finnish Defence Forces so that, where necessary, any member of the regular personnel of the Defence Forces could be assigned to any statutory task of the Defence Forces and that those liable for military service could be assigned more flexibly to tasks of the Defence Forces and NATO both at home and abroad.

Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 140 109.

Inquiries: Anna Gau, Senior Specialist for Legal Affairs, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 085

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Defence Ministeri Häkkänen: The United States supports TNT production in Finland financially

2026-09-15T14:30:00Z

“We decided to build the TNT production facility to meet the critical needs of Finland and NATO. Strengthening our defence industrial base contributes to our overall defence and creates jobs as well as prosperity. We have held discussions together with our Allies on their participation to the project. The financial support of the United States to this project is yet another demonstration of the deep defence cooperation between our countries,” states Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The new TNT production facility will produce TNT for Finland’s and NATO’s needs and will enable long-term support to Ukraine. Oy Forcit Ab is responsible for the investment and the operation of the production facility.

Inquiries: Frans Peltonen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. 0295 140 021.

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Finland to send another package of defence materiel to Ukraine

2026-09-15T08:36:00Z

The overall value of the package now delivered to Ukraine is around EUR 290 million. The total value of the defence materiel Finland has delivered to Ukraine has reached EUR 3.6 billion. This time the package contains materiel urgently requested by Ukraine. In terms of monetary value, it is the second largest of all the packages Finland has delivered so far.

“Finland continues to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unlawful aggression. Throughout the war, we have provided Ukraine with materiel assistance based on its needs. In addition to donating defence materiel from our stockpiles, we have procured products from the Finnish defence industry, some of which are included in this package. In this way, Finland’s support for Ukraine will also strengthen the capacity of our own defence industry,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Inquiries: Antti Vesala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence, antti.vesala@gov.fi.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen: Finland and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on quality assurance in the defence materiel sector

2026-09-14T12:40:00Z

“The Memorandum of Understanding will strengthen our cooperation with South Korea which is an important partner for Finland. It derives from Finland’s procurement of K9 armoured howitzers from South Korea. The MoU creates opportunities for deeper procurement cooperation between the countries’ defence administrations. It also helps guarantee the quality of technological development in the defence materiel sector. Democratic countries must work together to strengthen our ability to counter the threat posed by authoritarian regimes,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

Inquiries: Björn Enroth, Branch Engineer, Material Unit, Resource Policy Department, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 053.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen: Finland will join the French initiative on European nuclear deterrence

2026-09-14T08:34:00Z

In March 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron launched an initiative on the European dimension of France’s nuclear deterrence. Eight countries were then announced having joined the initiative, followed by Norway at a later stage. Finland has been discussing joining the initiative with France. The two countries have now concluded their talks and have issued a joint statement on Finland joining the nuclear deterrence initiative.

“The French initiative will strengthen Europe’s increasingly active approach to defence. Its objective is to reinforce security and deterrence across Europe,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen says.

“France is a European nuclear power that plays a key role in strengthening the defence of Europe. Finland joining the French initiative will significantly deepen our bilateral defence cooperation with France and strengthen the security of Finland. This is a natural step as our close allies Norway, Sweden and Denmark have already joined the initiative.”

The French initiative does not replace or overlap with NATO’s nuclear deterrence. NATO’s nuclear deterrence is based on nuclear-sharing arrangements and relies on the United States’ extended deterrent. It is ultimately the supreme guarantee of the security of the Alliance.
NATO’s nuclear deterrence has been enhanced with renewed determination in recent years. Finland contributes to that work. France’s sovereign nuclear deterrence promotes the overall security of the Alliance and Europe.

“Each country joining the French initiative will define itself its pace of engagement. The French initiative is different from NATO’s nuclear deterrence. The joining countries will not have obligations like NATO's collective defence. Moreover, France is not asking the other countries to contribute to the costs of maintaining the nuclear deterrence,” Minister Häkkänen says.

As a first step after the signing of the joint statement, officials will discuss how the cooperation will be initiated. Next, the Finnish defence administration will start preparing for negotiations with France on how the cooperation will proceed in concrete terms.

In his speech, President Macron coined the term ‘forward deterrence’ (dissuasion avancée) to describe the European dimension of the French nuclear deterrence. Despite the initiative, the French nuclear doctrine will retain its strictly defensive character. France will not provide an alternative nuclear umbrella for the countries joining the initiative. The nuclear weapons and any decisions that are essential to protect vital French interests will remain at the sole discretion of France. The cooperation is shaped by the interests of each joining country.

“Examples of possible forms of cooperation include dialogue on the French nuclear doctrine, joint exercises where the joining country is an observer or contributes conventional capabilities or, ultimately, the temporary deployment of elements of French strategic air forces in the allied country”, says Minister of Defence Häkkänen.

The initiative is not in conflict with the international obligations of the joining countries. Key international agreements, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, will apply as before.

“Europe must assume a greater role both in conventional defence and in nuclear burden sharing. Discussions on reinforcing nuclear deterrence and strengthening the security of Europe are essential for Finland’s defence,” Häkkänen says.

Due to an official trip abroad, Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will not hold a press conference on the matter.

Interview requests for the Minister should be directed to Special Adviser Dani Niskanen at tel. 0295 140 109.

Inquiries: Janne Kuusela, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence. Contact Jukka Matilainen, Head of Communication, tel. +358 295 160 086 or viestinta.plm@gov.fi.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen decides on Finnish Defence Forces’ participation in international training and exercises in 2027

2026-09-11T05:18:00Z

“By actively engaging in training and exercises with our allies, we show our defence capability and further improve the operational and other capabilities we need for our defence. The Finnish Defence Forces’ international training and exercise plan for 2027 has 134 exercises or exercise settings in Finland and abroad,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Finland’s NATO membership, our deepening defence cooperation with the United States, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, France and other important allies, and the evolving security environment have wide ranging effects on the international training and exercises of the Finnish Defence Forces.

“Next year, a particular focus will be on the training and exercises of NATO’s permanent presence in Finland, that is, the Multi-Corps Land Component Command (MCLCC) in Mikkeli and the Forward Land Forces (FLF) in Lapland,” Minister Häkkänen said.

“We are also keeping track of technological advances in conflicts and the battlefield. We analyse carefully our observations and integrate the lessons learned into the training and exercises of the Finnish Defence Forces,” Häkkänen said.

International exercises are an integral part of the Finnish Defence Forces’ daily exercises. In practice, there are always Allied forces in Finland who are either engaged in, preparing for or concluding exercises.

“We have Allied forces exercising in Finland almost every day and, increasingly, for extended periods,” Häkkänen said.

The Finnish Defence Forces will provide more information about the training and exercises closer to the date of each event.

Inquiries: Mika Varvikko, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 316.

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Finnish Defence Forces to procure new mortar systems

2026-09-08T08:59:00Z

The Finnish Army developed the new heavy Modular Mobile Mortar (M3) system together with the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and Patria. The Army has been using a pre-series system in training since the beginning of 2026.

The overall value of the contract, excluding value added tax, is EUR 49.9 million. The contract and its options allow the Army to procure hundreds of mortar systems. The domestic employment effect is approximately 130 person-years.

“We are procuring a Finnish mortar system that will significantly enhance the performance of infantry fire support. Being Finnish-made will guarantee security of supply for components and spare parts. The system is also highly cost-effective, largely thanks to its use of existing and tried-and-tested components, as well as an earlier framework agreement on inertial navigation systems,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Conscript training using pre-series mortars is already underway, and the first weapons of the new series will be ready in the autumn.

Heavy mortars are used to provide support for forces in combat. Mortar systems are part of the combined fires of the Finnish Army, and their role will become more prominent as the forces’ organic heavy indirect fire units. They enable quick and accurate engagement with the enemy even when other systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, cannot be used.

Inquiries: Jussi Ristimäki, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 072. Contact the Finnish Defence Forces via its media service media.puolustusvoimat@mil.fi.

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