The Evolution of Finland's Security Policy : Relations wtih Russia (the Soviet Union), the EU, and NATO

Abstract

This paper examines the evolution of Finland’s security policy from the Cold War era to its accession to NATO in 2023, through an analysis of government reports. During the Cold War, Finland maintained a policy of neutrality based on the YYA Treaty with the Soviet Union, thereby avoiding alignment with either the Eastern or Western bloc. After the Cold War, Finland reoriented its security framework through accession to the European Union while remaining outside NATO, instead fostering a cooperative relationship with the alliance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 marked a turning point in public opinion, ultimately leading to Finland’s NATO membership in 2023. While government reports identify NATO accession as a significant policy shift, they also emphasize the continuity of long-standing elements such as conscription and relations with the EU. This paper focuses on how the Finnish state has articulated its security policy over time, using shifts in discourse within official reports to illuminate changes and continuities in its policy trajectory.