Finland's peace and defense priorities

Finland is committed to peace while maintaining a strong national defense. This approach is influenced by its history, especially its 1917 independence and the civil war that followed, which shaped its current values and policies.

Finland's development and global rankings

Despite being a poor nation in 1917, Finland has since become a prosperous Nordic welfare society. It ranks highly in global indices related to quality of life, education, media freedom, and happiness.

Finland's national defense readiness

Finland's proximity to Russia has influenced its national defense strategy. About 80 percent of its population is willing to defend the country, a figure comparable only to Israel, reflecting a strong public commitment to national security.

Finland's stance on multilateralism

Finland believes in international institutions, norms, and rules to prevent global conflict. However, it acknowledges that current institutions like the United Nations and World Bank were established in a different world and are biased in favor of the West.

Reforming global institutions

Finland advocates for reforming global institutions to better reflect today's power dynamics. It supports giving more power to the Global South and suggests that the world is moving toward a plurilateral system, balancing multipolarity and multilateralism.

Regional and emerging global organizations

Regional organizations like the European Union and ASEAN, as well as emerging groups such as BRICS and the Quad, play roles in this evolving global system. Finland emphasizes the need for these organizations to integrate effectively into the global framework.