Finland’s role in global peacekeeping missions has reduced significantly over the past few decades. The country currently has 330 people deployed in peacekeeping and crisis management operations across the world.
A large majority of these—around 200—are in Lebanon, which is currently facing a humanitarian crisis. Small peacekeeping troops have also been deployed in Kosovo, Iraq and Mali. Additionally, Finland has naval forces in the Mediterranean Sea.
Despite a long history with peacekeeping and crisis management missions, which first began in 1956, Finland has an exceptionally low number of peacekeepers at present.
“We are, to some extent, at a historic low in peacekeeping [mission numbers],” says Colonel Vesa Valtonen, the Commander of Pori Brigade, a unit of the Finnish Army. According to Valtonen; however, the phenomenon is not exclusive to Finland, as countries such as Sweden have also drastically reduced their peacekeeping activity
The overall number of peacekeeping troops has decreased significantly, especially since the end of NATO-led operations in Afghanistan. However, the number of Finnish peacekeepers deployed in Afghanistan was already relatively small, and had dropped to a few dozen in recent years.
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen (Cen) has stated that the need for global peacekeeping operations has reduced significantly compared to previous decades, and there are currently substantially fewer troops engaged in crisis management.
“We also need to consider resources. We no longer have the extensive resources to contribute that we did in previous years,” he said.
Africa likely the next destination for peacekeeping activities
While peacekeeping and crisis management missions have traditionally been led by the UN, various associations, including the EU and NATO, spearhead operations today. In Finland, protocol dictates that the country can agree to participate in a peacekeeping mission only once it receives an official request for the same.
“We have various offers on the table, but we cannot accept several of them,” said Kaikkonen. According to the minister, the Parliamentary Committee for Crisis Management has discussed Finland’s future policies, and while no official decisions have been made regarding new destinations, committee members have unanimously set their sights on Africa.
“Ensuring stability in Africa is in Europe’s best interest. If Africa experiences unrest, it could lead to a huge flow of immigrants to Europe. We would withstand this pretty badly,” Kaikkonen added.
Intensive training for peacekeeping continues
While the number of Finnish troops deployed in peacekeeping missions is exceptionally low, soldiers are still undergoing intensive training for the field. Around 600 members of the Pori Brigade have signed up to receive training in peacekeeping and crisis management this year.
Reserve units are constantly given guidance on existing operations, and the brigade occasionally organises specialised courses. Valtonen said he believes the content of the training could be easily adapted to fit upcoming needs, but hopes that any political decisions made during a crisis would be conveyed in a timely manner.
“Setting up a new operation after a political decision is made would take two months,” he explained.
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