Reader opinion It is important to discuss Finland’s security policy guidelines

Opinion|Reader’s opinion

Last weeks The debate on Finland’s security policy has intensified. It is positive that politicians have taken a stand. They have clarified Finland’s current policies and participated in the discussion on future policies. Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (Green) (General 10.1.) and former Prime Ministers Antti Rinne (sd) (US 19.1.) and Matti Vanhanen (Central) (Yle 27.1.) opened their own views on the situations in which Finland could apply for NATO membership. Regardless of their views on these conclusions, these views were important contributions to the national debate.

The debate has also sparked on whether Finland will accept the sale of weapons or the export of old weapons to Ukraine. Former Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja (SD) and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Mika Niikko (PS) provided views on the matter (HS 26.1.). Tuomioja said that Finland should not appear as a party to the conflict or solo in the matter. As an EU member, Finland is, of course, already part of the conflict through sanctions and a broader security policy framework. One can also rightly ask how Finland would be solo in this matter when a larger number of European countries are ready to transfer or sell weapons to Ukraine in order to improve the country’s defense capabilities. As the debate continued, Chairman Niikko did On Twitter (27 January) a clear distinction between helping Ukraine and EU members Sweden and Estonia.

In an ever-changing security environment, it is important to discuss these lines in public. This is essential for our democracy. The more heavyweight politicians involved in the debate, the better.

Charly Salonius-Pasternak

Leading Researcher, Institute of Foreign Policy

Reader opinions are speeches written by HS readers, selected and delivered by HS’s editorial staff. You can leave a comment or read the principles of writing at www.hs.fi/kirjtamielipidekirjoitus/.