DISPATCHES* - The End of Finnish Peacekeeping?

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is celebrated annually on 29 May. This is the date when the first UN peacekeeping mission started to operate in Palestine in 1948 (United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, UNTSO). The current circumstances in the region give pause as regards the challenges of peacekeeping, the capabilities of the international community and the ability of people to seek and to live in peace.

An article published in the International Journal of Peacekeeping reflects on the real background of Finnish Peacekeeping efforts and the future of Finnish engagement in this regard.

Finland has previously regarded itself as a superpower of peacekeeping – and Finland indeed has extensive experience of participating in international military crisis management, from UN peacekeeping operations in the Middle East to NATO-led operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan. In total, over 50,000 Finns have served in these roles since Finland's first peacekeeping operation in Suez in 1956.

One of the longest-running operations in which Finland has participated is UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), operating in southern Lebanon, in which Finland has been involved at various times since 1982. Some 200 Finnish peacekeepers are currently serving in the UNIFIL operation. In August 2025, the UN Security Council decided to wind down the UNIFIL operation by the end of 2026, after which the troops would withdraw during 2027. If the operation is wound up as planned, only a little over a hundred Finnish peacekeepers will remain deployed worldwide. Finland's status as a major power in peacekeeping ended long ago, but is Finland's participation in international peacekeeping about to come to an end altogether?

Finnish foreign and security policy objectives have always been the driving force behind Finnish peacekeeping. Peacekeeping has created a framework for social development in the target area and strengthened the international rules-based world order and, consequently, Finland's own security – at least according to official statements (VN 2021:13). In reality, however, participation in peacekeeping and crisis management has sought to align Finland with Western European security systems and has strengthened Finland's relations with the United States from the early days of the Cold War right through to the realisation of NATO membership.

During the Cold War, participation in peacekeeping helped to build a perception of Finland's neutral position in relations between the great powers – which was a victory in itself in light of the options available at the time. As peacekeeping was primarily an undertaking by Western countries, Finland was able to position itself within the international framework it desired, alongside the other Nordic countries actively involved in peacekeeping.

Finland's security environment changed decisively with the end of the Cold War, which increased Finland's room for manoeuvre in foreign and security policy. Crisis management enabled very close cooperation with NATO – as well as security cooperation within the framework of the EU. By participating in crisis management, Finland was involved in the creation of post-Cold War security arrangements in Western Europe. At its peak, for example, Finland had close to 1,000 soldiers in the KFOR operation in Kosovo.

One of the key elements of Finland's security policy has been the establishment and maintenance of strong transatlantic relations – participation in crisis management operations has been an important means of demonstrating support for the United States' international interests and strengthening security relations between the two countries. Following the 9/11 attacks in New York, the United States required the support of its allies and partners for its own security solutions in Afghanistan – in the words of then-President George W. Bush, "You are either with or against us". Finland did indeed participate in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan from 2002 until the operation's conclusion in 2014, and for a long time thereafter.

As the geopolitical situation has changed, Finland's foreign and security policy challenges have increased, and Finland has sought a new security policy solution through alliance. Finland was accepted as a member of NATO, partly with the support of the United States – a decision to which Finland's participation in international operations led by the United States certainly contributed.

With NATO membership, Finland no longer has the same immediate security policy interest or need to participate in international peacekeeping and crisis management. NATO membership and the obligations that come with it will, going forward, largely determine Finland's participation in international peacekeeping and crisis management. As a country on the periphery of NATO, however, Finland will, in the current security environment, focus primarily on strengthening its own defence – and on preparing to receive and host NATO forces in Finland.

Interest in participating in traditional peacekeeping has clearly diminished. Participation in the UNIFIL operation has provided Finland with a suitable means, in terms of cost and risk, to demonstrate long-term commitment and consistency in its UN policy.

Finland's participation in peacekeeping and international crisis management has been goal-oriented – it has served as a tool for promoting the key objectives of Finland's foreign and security policy.

Is there, then, still a need for Finnish peacekeeping?

Klaus Ilmonen, LL.D., KFOR (2003), ISAF (2012), UNIFIL (2/2020)

*The DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONTLINES OF PEACE provide brief commentary based on experiences and observations from past deployments in regions in crisis.