Peacekeeping in Finnish Security Policy – from the UN Blue Beret to NATO Green

Finland has a robust history in international peacekeeping extending from UN operations in the Middle East to NATO-led missions in the Balkans and Afghanistan. Finland’s participation in international peacekeeping operations has been informed by the country’s foreign and security policy that has evolved from Cold War neutrality to recent NATO-membership. Current geopolitical changes, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, have redefined the Finnish security environment. It is topical to assess the drivers underlying Finnish peacekeeping policy and consider the future of Finnish peacekeeping. This study finds that, overall, Finnish participation has provided an important framework for integration with the country’s West European peers as well as for strengthening its transatlantic relations, especially after the end of the Cold War. Finland can be expected to continue to strengthen security cooperation based on aligned security interests on both a bilateral and multilateral basis within and beyond the NATO framework. These pursuits will also inform future Finnish participation in international peacekeeping and other military crisis management.