The Finnish Defence Forces and NATO

The most important effect of possible NATO membership would be that Finland is part of NATO's common defence and is covered by the security guarantees under Article 5. The preventive effect of Finland's defence would be much greater than it is today. NATO's greatest importance to defense capabilities would be capabilities that a small country cannot afford to acquire independently.

Military alliances do not detract from the need for a strong defense of their own. Finland's military defence remains the core task of the Defence Forces, and Finland continues to decide on the principles for the implementation of military national defence itself. We have maintained and will continue to maintain and develop a strong defence capability and continue bilateral and multilateral defence cooperation.  Nor does NATO membership mean abandoning general conscription. Participation in NATO operations shall be based on national decision-making. 

The defence cooperation network that has been built up over the years has proven to be important for the tightened security situation. Military defence cooperation, including exercise and armament cooperation, strengthens Finland's national defence and improves the capabilities required by law to provide and receive military assistance if necessary. 

Possible changes and consequences for the personnel will be specified in the accession negotiations between Finland and NATO. It is a gradual unit built up over the years. 

With a possible NATO membership, the Armed Forces' paid personnel will be deployed in NATO's military command structure as well as in NATO's troop composition and organs. The number of persons and the data will be specified as the accession negotiations progress. The domestic leadership structure remains much as it is today. It is possible, for example, that a high-readiness force of professional soldiers will be established due to NATO readiness requirements. The number of employees is likely to increase with the membership of all staff groups.

The basics of conscription and voluntary service for women will not change with possible NATO membership. In other words, a possible membership does not affect the service arrangements or status of conscripts. The participation of conscripts in the activities of the Finnish Defence Forces outside Finland's borders is voluntary.

The basics of conscription will not change with possible NATO membership. Any membership will therefore not affect the position of the reservists. Reservists' participation in the activities of the Finnish Defence Forces outside Finland's borders is voluntary.

The Defence Forces' international exercise activities are active during NATO's membership process. More and more Finnish soldiers are gaining experience of cooperating with international partners in both national and regional exercises. The joint exercises and naval visits are part of the partner countries' support for Finland's NATO membership process. For Finland, the exercises are an effective way to demonstrate the competence of our conscripts and to verify and develop the international compatibility of our own troops. The Defence Forces' own exercises will continue as before.

NATO countries signed Accession Protocols for Finland and Sweden on the 5th of July 2022. With this, Finland and Sweden became invitee members of NATO.  

Next, the membership of Finland and Sweden must be ratified by each NATO country and after it, the invitees become members. Each country has their own ratification process but generally the parliament of the country must ratify and accept Finland’s Accession Protocol.

After each NATO country has ratified Finland’s membership it will become a NATO member.

Discussions between Finland and NATO during the ratification phase are a part of a political process where the Defence Forces has an expert role in matters regarding defence and military topics. 

As invitees Finland and Sweden may attend NATO meetings and working groups and they have a right to speak in the meetings. Invitees do not have the right to vote.

One objective agreed by member states is to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence spending.

NATO membership will increase Finland's current defence expenditure by 1–1.5 per cent, including direct support related to the Alliance's activities, as well as salaries and other expenditure for personnel deployed in its governance structures.

The Finnish Defence Forces already meet NATO's military criteria: we have a strong national defence of our own and are adapted with the armed forces of different NATO countries. The equipment of the Defence Forces is essentially NATO-compatible, as is the modus operandi of the troops. In the Finnish Defence Forces' materiel projects, this has also been a requirement for a long time.

NATO treaties do not impose such obligations on a NATO member state. Decisions are taken at national level by a Member State on a national basis and in accordance with its national legal order. In the case of NATO bases or weapons systems that may be located in Finland, the matters will be carefully examined as the negotiations progress.