Finland's premier calls for strengthening European defense, security

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – Finland’s prime minister on Wednesday urged that European defense and security be strengthened.

The war in Ukraine is not just a conflict at Europe's borders, but "a stark reminder of the fragility of our peace," Petteri Orpo told members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

Orpo told how Finland, after the Cold War, remained "committed to maintaining a credible and independent defense capacity."

"Our decision to join NATO is not one we took lightly. It was a clear signal of our commitment to European security," the premier emphasized.

After decades of neutrality, spurred by the Russia-Ukraine war, Finland became a full member of NATO last April. At 1,340 kilometers (832 miles), Russia’s border with Finland is its longest with a NATO country. The border has been under increased vigilance since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine nearly 25 months ago.

"The war in Ukraine has been a wake-up call for all of us. We must never again be so reliant on others for our energy and security. We must take care of our own defense," Orpo said.

- Catch-up call for Europe

He underlined the need to strengthen Europe's strategic competitiveness since the continent is "falling behind in productivity," while the US and China "are experiencing faster growth."

Europe also needs to improve its "comprehensive security," according to the Finnish premier.

"NATO and the EU do not exclude each other. They complement each other," he said, and accused Russia of "weaponizing migration to put pressure on Finland and the entire EU."

Russia has been pushing third-country nationals towards Finnish borders, and "the numbers are still relatively low, but the phenomenon is worrisome," Orpo explained.

He also stressed the importance of adopting the "right kind of climate policy," which would reinforce Europe's security supplies, boost its economy, and "improve the supply of European raw materials."

The premier also highlighted the European Investment Bank's role, saying it should be more engaged in "security and defense financing."

On the role of NATO’s largest transatlantic partner, he said: "More Europe does not and should not mean less America. The United States is and will be our most important ally.”