Military non-alignment to be foundation of government defence report

NATO membership retained as future option

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Finland’s three-party coalition government is keeping membership in NATO as a future option. At a meeting on Thursday, the government’s Ministerial Committee on Security Policy and President Tarja Halonen hammered out policy lines to be used as the basis of the government’s upcoming report on security policy.
      In the report, which is to be submitted to Parliament in the autumn, a credible defence and international cooperation are to be defined as the basis of Finland’s security and defence policy.
      Finland is to maintain and develop its own defence capability as a "militarily non-aligned" country, keeping watch on the changes in its security environment.
      There had been speculation that the government might drop the notion of military non-alignment, even if it stopped short of proposing NATO membership.
     
The decisions made at Thursday’s meeting are, in effect, political instructions for the next stage of drafting of the defence policy report. Until now the focus has been on the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Defence will now focus on the military aspects of the report.
      The basic military doctrine is the familiar commitment to defend all of Finland with defence forces based on universal male conscription, and with a defence structure based on regional defence. In addition, the government focused on the importance of military cooperation in various crisis situations.
      "International military cooperation is a significant part of Finnish defence and security policy, and it backs up Finland’s own defence. Military defence is to be developed in such a way that Finland can be an active participant in the security cooperation of the European Union, and can allocate the necessary military resources for actions required by membership in the union", the government says in its statement.
     
Finland is also prepared to take part in the EU’s rapid deployment crisis management forces. The possible need to amend Finnish legislation on participation in peacekeeping operations depends on upcoming EU decisions on the new forces. Decisions on the matter are expected in December.
      Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) says that Finland is ready to commit about 200 trained soldiers to the forces.
      Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) said at the same press conference that the size of the force depends on which countries would be Finland’s partners in the effort.
      He also noted that the large EU member states might prefer to organise their own forces rather than work with small member states.
      Tuomioja mentioned that Finland already has experience in cooperation with Britain and Sweden, for instance.
      The EU force would primarily comprise professional soldiers, or "contract soldiers", as the Finnish expression goes.
      Finland is involved in ongoing discussions with potential cooperative partners. Finland does not plan to send ordinary rifle-toting soldiers on missions abroad. Instead, it is offering its know-how in specialised areas, such as advanced mine-sweeping.
      The forces are to be ready for action in 2007.
      The government also emphasised the need of the Defence Forces to develop their skills in supporting other officials in the management of various security risks. Accordingly, the defence report is to place an emphasis on efforts by the Ministry of the Interior to fight the threat of terrorism. 


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Defence Minister says decision on EU rapid deployment forces could come in June (6.4.2004)

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