Prime Minister Stubb: The next Government must respond to the new security environment

Prime Minister Alexander Stubb discussed Finland’s new security environment in his speech “The security environment in transition – how will Finland respond?”, given at the Paasikivi Society on 24 March.

“The next Government will have two important tasks whose significance is above all the rest. One, restoring the Finnish economy to a growth path. And two, responding to changes in our security environment. The next Government needs a common understanding of the security situation just as badly as it needs that in the economy,” said Prime Minister Stubb.

According to Stubb, Finland’s security environment has changed in a direction in which there is a greater number of risk factors; traditional risk factors have been joined by many new ones. At the same time, the old challenges have not disappeared. This has been emphasised through the Ukraine crisis in particular.

“As a result, we must now see both the altered big picture of world politics and our own place in the altered picture. In addition to this, we must, through an honest, unprejudiced deliberation, choose those solutions that will best strengthen our security,” said Prime Minister Stubb.

Based on the common understanding of the situation, we will be able to strengthen our own national defence capabilities and tighten our international cooperation. This also means an open debate on NATO membership.

“Possible NATO membership would require four steps: First of all, we do not rule out the possibility of NATO membership in the Government Programme. Secondly, we undertake a study of NATO membership. Thirdly, membership has the broad support of the country’s foreign policy leadership. And fourthly, membership has the support of the Finnish people,” said Stubb.

“In 2011 some of the political parties put their head in the sand when confronted with unpleasant economic facts. Finland has suffered from that mistake. I hope that in 2015 we do not repeat the error of four years ago, this time when it comes to security,” said Prime Minister Stubb in conclusion.

Inquiries: Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Special Adviser (International Affairs), tel. +358 40 748 3867

The speech: “The security environment in transition – how will Finland respond?”