Finland Government proposes increasing defence appropriations

Petteri Orpo's government has decided that Finland will increase the level of its defence appropriations to at least three per cent of GDP by 2029. The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy agreed on the matter on Tuesday.

The government also decided that the defence forces will launch materiel projects for the army in a frontloaded manner.

“The solution will help us further strengthen Finland’s defence. It will allow the defence forces to take a longer-term approach so that it can immediately begin its work to modernise the army and strengthen resources on a threat-informed basis,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

Finland’s position on how much the NATO defence spending target should be increased will be agreed on separately before the NATO Summit in the Hague.

In the new security environment, the government said it would also ensure the strategic capabilities of the internal security actors – the border guard, the police and the Finnish security and intelligence service – by increasing their resources. Measures to develop and boost funding for civil defence will also begin immediately.

"The security environment in Finland and Europe has changed fundamentally," said the government. "Russia poses a long-term threat to Europe. This requires the government to take action. Finland will continue to strengthen its defence on a threat-informed and needs-driven basis.

"The solution will not jeopardise the government’s fiscal policy objectives or spending limits."