Defence policy report: Finland “strongly” considering NATO

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Finland “continues to have strong reasons to consider membership” in the NATO military alliance, says the Finnish government’s report on security and defence policy for this year.
     According to the report, the Defence Forces need not fear unexpected cutbacks in the early part of the next decade. Russia is not seen as a greater threat than it was before, and Finland is not currently under threat from any military crisis.
     Rising alongside military crises are the possibilities of instability caused by terrorism, economic recession, problems with energy supply and natural disasters.
     
The most sought-out quotation in the report of more than 100 pages was the one in which the government defines Finland’s relationship with NATO.
     According to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre), changes were made along the way to the wording of the NATO part, “so that it would not constantly stay the same”. The report does not give cause for a new point stand during the electoral term.
      As Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) sees it, the new report has “strong arguments” in favour of NATO.
      “There really are strong reasons to consider membership”, Stubb said.
      Minister of Employment and the Economy Tarja Cronberg (Green) pointed out that the report also contained arguments for not applying for membership.
      Cronberg emphasised that Finland’s security policy choice is the European Union. She also said saw a resurgence in defence cooperation among the Nordic Countries.
      The report emphasises how important international cooperative organisations are for Finland.
     
Minister of Defence Jyri Häkämies (Nat. Coalition Party) says that the message to the Defence Forces is that no garrisons are to be closed down, that the reserves will not be reduced from the current 350,000, and that the funding will be kept at the present level in the next electoral term.
      A two per cent increase is in store for 2011, in addition to an inflation check. In practice, two per cent means an increase of about EUR 50 million. It makes sure that regional forces will get modern command systems and vehicles.
      “Defence materiel rises in price at a higher rate than inflation, but this is sufficient for maintaining the capability of the military”, Häkämies said.
      Prime Minister Vanhanen warned that the Defence Forces did not get a blank check. If there is not enough money, the Defence Forces will need to enact “organisational changes”, Vanhanen said.
     
Häkämies plans to launch a study on the preservation of conscription as soon as Parliament has handled the report.
      At first, the number of conscripts who do not complete their service needs to be brought under control.
      “The critical level is 70 per cent of the age group. now we are at 73 per cent”, Häkämies noted. In his view, the defence administration alone cannot force the 18-year-olds who are called up to shape up. he says that their condition and state of will is a problem for all of society.
      In the future Finland will be spending EUR 50 million a year more on international crisis management, which makes a total of EUR 150 million.
     
The section on Russia begins by stating that Russia is seeking to restore its status as a great power.
      The crisis of Georgia is in fresh in people’s minds. The report observes that Russia is ready to use military force “outside its own borders as well”. The defence budget of Finland’s eastern neighbour has grown throughout the decade.
      “Russia is no more threatening than it was before. Now we are simply talking about the right things with their right names”, Stubb said.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Vanhanen: Security report is no foreign policy bible (23.12.2008)
  Defence report to be postponed (14.11.2008)
  War in Georgia brought about only minor changes to government report on security and defence policy (25.9.2008)
  Parliament fails to snare Foreign Minister Stubb over NATO comments (11.9.2008)

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