Finnish peacekeeping commitment in Afghanistan rising to 195 troops

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Finland has decided to send more forces to Afghanistan. The Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, along with President Tarja Halonen, decided on Friday that Finland should increase its current deployment of about 120 soldiers by more than 50.
      Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) said at a press conference on Friday that next year, the total troop strength would increase to about 200.
      To this, Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) specified that the total strength would be no more than 195.
     
The increase in troop strength is to be temporary.
      “The plan is to assess Finland’s crisis management participation in the area towards the end of 2011, taking account of how the shift of responsibilities to the Afghan authorities has succeeded and participation in military crisis management developed at international level”, the statement read.
      The committee also discussed Afghan reconstruction. Finland plans to boost its support to Afghanistan by means of development cooperation, civilian crisis management, as well as through military crisis management.
      Finland also plans to direct a greater portion of its development cooperation funding to Afghanistan’s northern provinces.
      Finnish participation in the European Union’s police operation is to be increased, and the focus of these resources is to be on the north of Afghanistan.
     
Also discussed at the meeting was Finnish participation in the planned EU operation for training security forces in Somalia.
      Finland is preparing to participate in the EU operation by sending individual military trainers to the area. The EU training is to take place outside Somalia, in Uganda, where Somali security forces are already undergoing training.
      The EU training operation would be part of extensive actions by the international community aimed at the stabilisation of Somalia.
      The EU aims at deciding on the establishment of the operation by mid-February. The aim is to train a force of 2,000 Somali soldiers.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland may increase size of force in Afghanistan (18.1.2010)
  Vanhanen: responsibility over a whole province could require more forces in Afghanistan (10.12.2009)
  Finland repeats old Afghanistan promises at foreign ministers’ meeting (7.12.2009)
  Finland to NATO meeting without promise of greater Afghan force commitment (4.12.2009)

Links:
  Government Communications Unit Press release 22.1.2010: Finland’s support to the stabilisation and reconstruction of Afghanistan and the training of Somali security forces

Helsingin Sanomat