Finland Commits to Boosting National Defense, Supporting Ukraine
(MENAFN) Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced a dual-pronged strategy today, emphasizing a critical boost to Finland's national defense while committing to ongoing support for Ukraine. Speaking before Parliament, Orpo framed the initiative as fulfilling Finland's duty to European security.
"Finland carries its responsibility for Europe's security by supporting Ukraine. At the same time, Finland takes care of its own security, our own border," the prime minister stated.
Orpo underscored that this strategy marries international obligation with internal readiness. The government's proposed 2026 budget allocates 6 billion euros ($7.02 billion) for military modernization through new procurement authorizations. This move is part of a broader plan to increase defense spending to a minimum of 3% of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2029.
Furthering its focus on border integrity, Orpo noted that the European Commission's most recent proposal has designated 1.6 billion euros for Finland's border security in the upcoming multi-year budget. This represents an increase of over 1 billion euros from the prior budgetary period.
Orpo also confirmed that Finland has already provided 29 shipments of defense materials to Ukraine, in addition to offering training and civilian aid. He pledged that Finland would continue to play an active role in European discussions regarding long-term security plans for Ukraine.
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