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Finland's comprehensive security reinforced through new security strategy for society

Finnish Ministry of Defence

16.01.2025 15:00

The Finnish Government adopted a government resolution on the Security Strategy for Society at its plenary session on 16 January 2025. The Security Strategy for Society is the most important document guiding comprehensive security in Finland. It describes the concept for comprehensive security and assigns each branch of government strategic tasks to strengthen comprehensive security. Vital functions of society will be safeguarded in collaboration with the authorities, business community, organisations and citizens.

"The concept for comprehensive security means that the entire Finnish society is committed to ensuring security in all situations. The new strategy the Government now adopted will strengthen comprehensive security in Finland. Its preparation was a collaboration of all branches of government, business community and organisations. I would like to thank everyone for their contribution to the strategy and for their commitment to safeguarding security," says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The Security Strategy for Society needed an update because of the changed security environment, lessons learned from Russia's war in Ukraine, recurrent shocks in recent years and changes in the public administration. As a result, new priorities have been added to the concept for comprehensive security.

"The new strategy emphasises the importance of stronger resilience, society's ability to respond to disruptions and crises and the key role of individuals in enhancing security. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and its broad-spectrum influencing activities highlight the responsibility of all branches of government to prepare for hostile activities by state actors," Minister Häkkänen says.

The strategy outlines that Finland must strengthen its own security comprehensively while also considering efforts within the framework of the European Union and NATO.

"Our concept for comprehensive security is internationally renowned, and we will continue to improve it as part of the Alliance and the EU. Many of our allies have already shown great interest in the outcome of our work. We are also prepared to share our knowledge with our EU and NATO partners," Häkkänen says.

The Security Strategy for Society states that, besides preparedness, Finland must also improve its ability to respond to disruptions and crises in society.

"In many ways, Finland's preparedness and official activities are first-rate, as demonstrated by the recent events in the Baltic Sea. However, we will not content ourselves with what we have achieved so far. Instead, we will continue to develop and exercise even more effective practices. We must ensure our response in all crisis situations as well as our quick recovery. The business community and civil society organisations are part of this through their own preparedness," Häkkänen says.

Finland has a long history of comprehensive security, according to Esa Pulkkinen, Chair of the Security Committee.

"We have been preparing for various disruptions and crises for decades in Finland. We have the ability of determined response, as we have recently demonstrated when faced with instrumentalised migration, damage to undersea infrastructure and interference with communications. However, our preparedness will never be complete, and we must continue to improve it. We are all needed in this work," says Pulkkinen.

The new Security Strategy for Society is available here.