NATO membership to reduce military threat to Finland

NATO membership will decrease the threat to Finland as Finland is supported by the performance capabilities of the entire alliance, according to ​the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament.

The committee on Friday finalised its report on government proposal on Finland’s accession to NATO, said the parliament in a press release on Friday.

The most important consequence of membership is that Finland becomes part of NATO's common defence and the security guarantees of the Article 5, the committee observed.

The Committee took a position in favour of NATO membership already in the spring in connection with the consideration of two government reports on the changes in the security environment.

The Committee stated that joining NATO is Finland's most significant foreign and security policy decision after EU membership, which has far-reaching effects on Finland's position.

However, if military force were to be used against Finland, Finland would defend itself with the support of the alliance in accordance with the joint defence arrangements prepared and practiced in advance.

In the government proposal, it has been stated that the NATO member states conduct their foreign, security and defence policy from the starting point that they are NATO members. The Foreign Affairs Committee considers it clear that NATO membership thus also narrows Finland's political room for manoeuvre.

Therefore, it is considered important that Finland, as a member of NATO, continues active and proactive diplomacy and a foreign and security policy that promotes global stability and is based on a broad concept of security.

​In its report, the Committee emphasised the parliament's right to information and participation in NATO decision-making, as well as the cooperation between the president and the government.

The Committee also emphasised the connection between NATO and EU affairs and considered their national coordination important.

When Finland has become a member of NATO, it is hoped that the government will evaluate, from the perspective of the Constitution, how membership affects the power structures between state bodies and whether it is necessary to strengthen the parliamentary features of the use of government power.

Likewise, it should be assessed whether the parliament can sufficiently influence key foreign and security policy solutions.

The committee emphasised that Finland's primary goal is for Finland and Sweden to join the defence alliance NATO together and as quickly as possible.