Decisions on major military exercise next year: President

The President Sauli Niinistö on Friday said that a ministerial body took a positive view regarding hosting of a major international military exercise but the final decision in this regard will not be made until next year, reported National Broadcaster Yle.

The President and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy on Friday discussed about the plans for next year's military exercises, said a government press release.

The committee also reviewed the proposal placed by Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö for hosting a major international military exercise in 2020 or 2021, said the Yle report.

“This will have to be developed over the years, but a decision of principle, yes or no, will certainly be made next spring,” said the report quoting the President as saying.

Decision on participation in the exercises is made from Finland’s own premises. In participation, both the significance of the exercises for the development of Finland’s defence capabilities and foreign and security policy perspectives will be taken into account, the committee observed in the meeting.

In 2018, the number of international exercises will remain at the same level as they are this year. The Ministry of Defence will base its decision on the exercises on the guidelines provided by the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy, inform Parliament, and publish the matter after that, the press release said.

The plan relating to the international dimension of the main military exercise of 2020/21 will be presented for discussion at a session of the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy in early 2018.

The meeting also debated Finland’s participation in international crisis management. The committee outlined that the strengthening of Finland’s participation in NATO’s training, advice and assistance mission in Afghanistan will be investigated.

An update on Finland’s participation in training and advice activities in the security sector in Iraq was also received.

Additionally, the committee received an update on the current situation in the Middle East, particularly in light of the recent events in Lebanon and Yemen. Finland stresses the need for mitigating regional tensions and avoiding their escalation.