Finland extends defense agreement with Israel until 2034: Report

Finland and Israel have “quietly” signed an extension to a memorandum of understanding on defense materiel cooperation that will remain in force until 2034, according to Finnish public broadcaster Yle on Monday, Anadolu reports.

The memorandum is intended to facilitate cooperation between the two countries on the research, development and procurement of military equipment.

The agreement was originally drawn up in 2013, and its previous period of validity was approaching its end. Finland reportedly proposed extending it in early 2024.

Unlike the previous five-year terms, the latest memorandum extends the cooperation for 10 years, through 2034.

Yle reported that the arrangement has attracted little public attention because Finland’s Defense Ministry did not announce it.

The broadcaster also noted that the memorandum was signed while the war in Gaza was already underway. By the time it was signed, tens of thousands of civilians had been killed in the war and Israel was facing mounting allegations of genocide.

Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen approved the memorandum in early 2024.

He described it as a routine arrangement between countries engaged in defense trade and said Finland has similar cooperation documents with around 40 countries, including Israel, which has been a long-standing partner.

Hakkanen also said there was nothing unusual about extending the memorandum given Finland’s previous defense acquisitions from Israel.

Shortly before the Gaza war began, the government of then-Prime Minister Sanna Marin decided to purchase Israel’s David’s Sling air defense system for more than €300 million ($350 million), according to Yle.

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The memorandum establishes a joint Finnish-Israeli coordination group that meets at least once a year. Finland is represented by Defense Ministry official Olli Ruutu.

The group provides a formal channel for regular contact between defense industry officials from the two countries.

Yle said it sought further information about the group but was unable to interview Ruutu.

In May, Helsinki hosted a Finnish-Israeli defense industry seminar attended by dozens of military companies from both countries, where they established contacts and explored potential business relationships.

Israeli news outlet Ynetnews reported that the Finnish delegation at the seminar indicated that Finland aimed to deepen cooperation with Israel.

It also reported that two dozen projects were underway between the Finnish military and Israel’s defense industry.

An Israeli Defense Ministry official told The Jerusalem Post that “Finland gives us a gateway into NATO and the broader European market.”

Yle reported that a majority of the Finnish public supports halting arms trade with Israel.

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said last year that Finland had “virtually no arms trade with Israel,” while Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said individual arms deals should be subject to critical scrutiny.

Kari Paasonen, a researcher of arms trade at the Tampere Peace Research Institute, said Finland’s public position had been that it did not want to deepen defense materiel cooperation with Israel because of the Gaza war.

Paasonen argued that the memorandum instead suggested Finland had sought to deepen the relationship.

He also said that even without new arms purchases, previous deals would make Finland an Israeli customer for years to come, as the systems already acquired would require maintenance, spare parts, software and upgrades.

“Finland is, in practice, dependent on Israel’s defense industry,” Paasonen said.

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