The main features of the Finnish people
and the Finnish Armed Forces,
you could describe it by saying ‘sisu’,
which is mental resilience and readiness to cope with harsh conditions
and still you are able to continue.
We say that ‘Ketju on yhtä vahva kuin sen heikoin lenkki’.
And that means that ‘the chain is as strong as its weakest link’.
So we want to make sure that our chain is very durable.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
not only changed the security landscape in Europe,
it also acted as a catalyst for Finland’s accession to NATO,
membership which was confirmed in April 2023.
We decided to join because we saw
that the membership would increase our security
for this new environment that we foresee.
That’s the very basic, simple reason.
But from a military and geographic standpoint,
what does NATO membership mean for the country itself?
And what does Finland bring to the NATO alliance?
We share the same neighbour than the Ukrainians.
It means that also we can provide some experience and expertise
about how the Russians,
they are behaving in our neighbourhood.
We have a 1,300 kilometres-long eastern border with Russia.
That is something we have to always keep in mind.
Even as a member of NATO,
Finland is responsible for defending its own country.
Finland’s membership of NATO
effectively doubled the size of the border
between NATO Allies and Russia.
And that border requires monitoring at all times.
We’re at the Salla border guard area
and we’re inspecting the border between Finland and Russia.
I work as a dog handler.
The dog will indicate if someone has crossed the border and will locate the track.
Well-equipped and with military training,
the Finnish Border Guard operates under the Ministry of Interior.
However, if a crisis was to occur here,
they could be integrated into the Finnish Defence Forces,
and could therefore be the first line of defence.
For me it is really important that the border is monitored.
I find it important.
We are in independent Finland, so that’s why.
I want Finland to remain independent in the future.
And while there is no immediate threat on the border,
this proximity to Russia is what prompted Finland
to abandon their neutral status and join the Alliance,
but membership in this region works both ways.
If you think about our location
in High North region and also the Baltic Sea region,
both areas with significant strategic value
and we are one of the stakeholders in this area,
so it is important.
Finland has a population of just 5.5 million.
However, the wartime strength of its armed forces
is a substantial 280,000.
And the reason for that
is its comprehensive conscription service.
Conscription is the core of our system.
It’s a glue which combines the whole Finnish nation.
Everybody has been living in a tent with other Finnish guys.
Everybody has been taking part in these exercises,
having field rations, getting cold, getting wet and fighting together.
According to the Finnish constitution,
every citizen is obligated to take part in national defence.
All men between 18 and 60 must complete military service
and women can participate on a voluntary basis.
Military service was always my dream.
I’ve dreamt about it since I was a little child.
My grandfather told me stories about his own experiences in the Finnish military.
It made me feel that I wanted to do it myself too.
I have a will to defend my country. I want to be a part of it.
We have seen the increasing number in willingness
to defend the country,
after the war started in Ukraine.
The numbers were high already before
but now all the people, men and women,
are more willing to do something for his or her country.
Finland also has one of the largest artillery capabilities in Europe
with an arsenal of approximately 1,500 weapons.
We have a modern system of far-reaching joint fires,
but the main essence of our defence system
and extra value for NATO
is our capabilities to fight a long-lasting warfare
in deep, deep forest area.
Finnish joining to NATO
increases the safety and security in Europe
and especially in the Baltic Sea region.
With Finland’s location as one of the nations bordering the Baltic Sea,
and with the Gulf of Finland
an important hub for trade and transport,
Finland’s navy needs to perform a variety of roles.
The Navy’s main tasks include surveillance of our territorial waters
and repelling maritime attacks and territorial violations, if any.
And of course the navy is taking care
of our vital sea lines of communication
and protecting those.
As well as these primary functions,
the Finnish Navy performs multiple tasks
related to the protection and defence of the surrounding waters.
This mine countermeasures ship
is responsible for detecting, identifying and neutralising
underwater explosive threats, like sea mines.
Previous wars have proven that
the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland is very easily mineable.
We’re talking about shallow waters, rocky bottoms, very hard sound profile.
Conditions are very hard for mine hunting.
And that’s what we’re good at
and that is something that we can bring to the NATO Allies.
As well as protecting the Finnish coastline from the sea,
it is also protected from the air.
And the backbone of the Finnish Air Force
is its fleet of 62 F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters.
We need to be ready 24/7
for the identification missions
mainly at the Gulf of Finland and Baltic Sea,
so that’s how we do it.
That includes air surveillance,
which means the recognised air picture
which the Finnish Air Force
is providing for all the services in the Finnish Defence Forces.
The Finnish Air Force has long trained and operated
alongside international partners
but since Finland’s accession into NATO,
that cooperation has been stepped up
as they integrate into Allied air defence strategy.
It’s about doing the same thing in the same way to be effective together.
And that is important, that we can really work together closely,
sharing the tactics and the knowledge.
Behind that is the wartime capability for air operations.
And with the F/A-18s set to be replaced
with 64 powerful F-35 fighter aircraft starting in 2026,
Allied air defences in the region
will become even stronger and more integrated
than they already are.
Finland’s defence forces are woven into the fabric of its society.
It’s all about geography,
it’s about history,
it’s about population, how we think we can survive here.
It’s everything, I would say, in the Finnish defence solution.
Bringing this comprehensive approach to NATO
strengthens the Alliance in vulnerable regions
such as the High North and the Baltic Sea,
and reinforces the principle of collective defence
on NATO’s eastern flank.
For Finland, joining the Alliance
means they are protected under Article 5.
An attack on one is an attack on all.