Most Finns feel that Finland is making a sufficient contribution to international crisis management operations. According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, a clear majority of Finns feel that the country’s present commitment of 800 soldiers in crisis management operations is enough.
Nearly ten per cent felt that the current level is excessive, and five per cent felt that it was too small.
The survey involved interviews with 1,000 people in Finland between August 28th and September 5th.
There were no great differences in the views of supporters of the various political parties. The most satisfied with the status quo were supporters of the Social Democratic Party. The most eager to increase participation in international crisis management were supporters of the National Coalition Party and the Greens. Least willing to increase the Finnish effort were supporters of the Centre Party.
If Finland were to increase its input into international crisis management, Finns feel that the funding should not be taken away from the resources committed to Finland’s own defence.
Three out of four respondents felt that participation in international crisis management should be financed through supplemental funding, while only 16 per cent would be willing to cut back on the defence of Finland for the sake of international missions.
Young people, aged 15 to 24, were the most willing to compromise on Finnish defence; one in four of them supported the idea of taking funding from national defence and spending it on international tasks. Older age groups were less willing: only one in ten among those aged 50 to 65 would be willing to compromise on the defence of Finland for the purpose.
Nearly half of supporters of the Left Alliance would cut back on domestic defence for the same of international deployments. One in three supporters of the Green League would be willing to do the same, as would fewer than 10 per cent of supporters of other parties.
