Timo Kivinen
General, Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces
Finland
After the end of the Cold War, Europe believed that a direct military threat was very unlikely on our continent. Many countries cut down on their national defence. Thus, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a rude awakening for many. War in Europe had become a reality. There were signs of Russia’s aggressive actions before; in Georgia, Syria and in Ukraine. So far, one of the significant security policy knock-on effects of the war has been Finland and Sweden’s decisions to apply for NATO membership. The military preparations of Finland’s NATO membership are advancing as planned, in cooperation with NATO’s military authorities.
The change in Europe’s security situation can also be seen around the Baltic Sea Region. Military activity in the region has increased. The Russian Navy has continued to operate actively in the area and NATO has increased its presence in Eastern Europe. NATO’s member states have strengthened the defence of the Baltic States and other countries in the region. NATO has increased its presence at the Baltic Sea by actively participating in exercises with Finland and Sweden. Furthermore, during the war Russia has concentrated units and equipment from our neighbouring area to Ukraine. The majority of those units have been from the Russian Land Forces and Marine Infantry. Therefore, the situation close to Finland’s borders has remained calm.
From a military-strategic perspective, the Baltic Sea Region, the sea lines of the Northern Atlantic and Finland’s neighbouring Arctic areas are one entity. This geopolitical perspective will continue to be relevant in the changed security situation. Finland has many common interests with NATO member states in Northern Europe. Finland and Sweden's NATO membership will make the planning and implementation of Northern Europe’s defence easier. NATO membership will provide a common guidance for all of the Nordic and Baltic Countries for the planning and implementation of the High North’s defence, including the Baltic Sea Region. Thus, our membership will open up new avenues for cooperation with our current Partners – our future Allies.
The ultimate goal of Finland’s NATO membership is to advance Finland’s security as part of the Western world. As a member of NATO, Finland wants to be a provider of security, not a consumer. As a member, we will contribute to NATO’s collective defence to the best of our ability.
It remains to be seen, how Russia will change the deployment and activities of its Armed Forces in the Baltic Sea Region and in Northern Europe as a result of Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership. The Kola Peninsula with its strategic nuclear weapons, Greater St. Petersburg and the Kaliningrad region are areas that are very important to Russia.
Overall, the Baltic Sea and its security is important to all of its coastal states. The importance of maritime freight traffic is not decreasing. The Baltic Sea remains an important route also for Russian maritime trade. The flow of goods to the regions of St. Petersburg and Moscow has mainly happened through ports in the Baltic Sea. Therefore, it is in the common interest of all of the states in the region that the Baltic Sea remains calm and maritime traffic has free passage. Neither Finland nor NATO have any need to change this.
Compared to its size, Finland has a strong military. We have maintained general conscription, which enables us to have a large reserve. The war in Ukraine shows that the premise for developing Finland's defence has been very correct. The Finnish Defence Forces must have both sufficient readiness to act and sufficient capabilities for operating in an extended and large-scale military crisis. Our defence system is a combination of modern technology weapon systems and a large reserve. Finland has further decided to improve its defence capability, in addition to a long-term development plan. We will acquire more defence materiel already in use, increase the number of personnel, and further improve our readiness, for example by increasing refresher training exercises for reservists.
Despite our future NATO membership, it is us Finns who have the main responsibility for defending our country. As long as a nation has the will to defend itself, it stands on strong foundations. Actually, the national defence will of our citizens is at its highest since polling began. This also provides a good starting point for keeping the Baltic Sea and its surroundings calm and stable as the security environment is in flux.