Experts: new government has freer hands in foreign policy

Teija Tiilikainen

Raimo Väyrynen

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Finnish foreign and security policy is likely to continue on its present course during the new Parliamentary term. However, two Finnish experts say that the new government's policy programme allows for freer hands in considering NATO membership, for instance.
     European affairs expert Teija Tiilikainen says that room to manoeuvre is increased by the fact that the government programme does not specifically mention Finland's status as a non-aligned country.
     Finland is defined as a country that is not a member of the military alliance. The issue itself now carries less weight.
     "Military alignment is no longer seen as a binding decision, even though the country's foreign and security policy position is otherwise largely defined in the same way as before", says Raimo Väyrynen, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
     
For instance, the National Coalition Party has seen non-alignment to be a difficult concept for a number of reasons. The party notes that when it approved the European Union draft constitution, Finland committed itself to European Union security guarantees, which commit member states to defend each other, when necessary.
     Tiilikainen feels that it is significant that the government plans to examine the impact that NATO membership might have on Finland. The country's military position is to be evaluated on the basis of the assessment.
     Väyrynen says that the report is aimed at increasing public debate on the question of military alignment.
     "People would start to ponder what [NATO] membership would mean. The discussion would make NATO a more everyday matter, and it would no longer be a great myth", Tiilikainen ponders.
     Cooperation with the EU, with adjacent areas, and the United States are emphasised more than before in the new government programme. Relations with Russia are also underscored.
     According to Tiilikainen, the foreign and security policy of the government is equally affected by the fact that the National Coalition Party holds the portfolios of both Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence.
     "I do not remember a time when both portfolios would have been with the same party at the same time. Especially the National Coalition Party."


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Outgoing Parliamentary Speaker urges calm on NATO issue (13.3.2007)
  Most parliamentary candidates reject NATO and trust in conscript army (21.2.2007)

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