Finland Increases Defence Expenditure to Fortify Military and NATO Relations in 2025
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Helsinki, Dec 19 (NationPress) The Ministry of Defence of Finland revealed on Thursday a defence budget of 6.5 billion euros (approximately 6.67 billion US dollars) for the year 2025, representing an increase of 536 million euros compared to the current year.
The budget prioritizes the enhancement of national defence capabilities and aims to support Finland's integration into NATO, with an expectation that defence spending will constitute around 2.5 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.
The budget allocation encompasses 2.5 billion euros earmarked for military operations, which includes salaries for personnel, training for conscripts, and maintenance of equipment. Furthermore, 202 million euros is set aside for the procurement of aircraft and other defence materials over the next five years.
Additionally, 1.5 billion euros is allocated for the acquisition of new defence assets, while 431 million euros is devoted to long-term advancements in military systems, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Finland's defence expenditures associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are also part of this budget, with 158 million euros allocated to manage costs from its membership. This includes investments aimed at facilitating NATO's presence in Finland, bolstering interoperability, and enhancing troop reception capabilities.
Finland officially joined NATO as its 31st member in April 2023. During NATO's summit in July, member states endorsed the creation of the Multi Corps Land Component Command and the deployment of Forward Land Forces in Finland.
The country is also actively reinforcing defence collaboration within the Nordic region.
In October, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store, and the visiting President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, discussed critical security matters impacting Europe and agreed to strengthen their defence partnership.
The discussions concentrated on the changing security policy landscape, cooperation among NATO member countries, and relations with Russia.
The Norwegian government stated, 'The meeting underscored the mutual commitment of Norway and Finland to maintain regional stability.'
These discussions occurred at a pivotal moment for Europe, amidst rising tensions in various regions.
