The Finnish Defence Forces participate in 80–90 international exercises and training events every year. Participation in these exercises is based on national defence needs. The Finnish Defence Forces' annual international exercise participation plan for 2017 was approved by the Minister of Defence on 25 November 2016.
The Finnish Defence Forces' proposal concerning participation in international exercises and training events is submitted annually to the Ministry of Defence. The annual plan is processed by the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, which operates under the direct authority of the President of the Republic and the Finnish Government. In addition to this, parliamentary defence and foreign policy committees are also informed of the plan. The annual plan is approved by the Minister of Defence.
International exercises are an important part of international defence cooperation and one means of sustained national defence expertise development. Participation in international exercises and training events helps develop the competence and capability of personnel, as well as the capability of troops. They are an appropriate and cost-effective way of accumulating experience and developing compatible operating methods.
Participating in a wide and diverse range of training activities is also essential for developing international interoperability. The number of troops participating in individual exercises ranges from a few individual persons sent to handle HQ duties to detachments up to the size of a battalion. Each defence branch – the Army, the Navy and the Air Force – participates in various exercises in turn.
The annual plan will be further clarified during 2017 as the detailed planning of individual exercises continues. All the international exercises that the Finnish Defence Forces participate in will be announced in advance on the Defence Forces' website.
Ministry of Defence’s press release
Additional information on Defence Forces international exercises
