- Finland has officially extended its military cooperation agreement with Israel for ten years, until 2034.
- Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen approved the extension despite political objections linked to the conflict in Gaza.
- Finnish investments with Israeli defence manufacturers now amount to several hundred million euros per year.
Military partnership extended until 2034
Finland and Israel have extended their memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation for a period of ten years. The partnership, originally signed in 2013 for renewable five-year periods, will now run until 2034. The decision was approved by Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen and signed off by the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defence, Amir Baram. The agreement was formalised during a visit to Israel by the Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, General Janne Jaakkola. This renewal comes amid a tense political climate, drawing criticism from the Finnish opposition due to the situation in the Gaza Strip. While Green League leader Sofia Virta challenged the move, the Ministry of Defence described it as a routine administrative measure.
Major strategic and industrial stakes
The protocol governs research, development, and the acquisition of military equipment between the two nations. Finnish orders from the Israeli defence industry now total several hundred million euros annually. Key transactions include the purchase of the “David’s Sling” air defence system for €316 million in 2023, Spike anti-tank missiles for €213 million in 2022, and Gabriel anti-ship missiles for €162 million in 2018. Recent discussions have focused on the design of an interconnected, multi-layered air shield. For Finland, a new NATO member sharing a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, this cooperation strengthens the operational security of its territory and the Alliance’s northern flank.
