Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at Crisis management NOW – Serving peace 70 years and beyond in Helsinki

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at Crisis management NOW - Serving peace 70 years and beyond in Helsinki

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen at Crisis management NOW - Serving peace 70 years and beyond in Helsinki on 5 May 2026.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear colleagues and friends,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Crisis Management NOW conference.

Today's gathering brings together ambassadors, parliamentarians, crisis management professionals, students, and future international experts. Your presence reflects a shared commitment to peace, security, and international cooperation.

We meet here for the fifth time. This year's theme, "Serving Peace - 70 years and beyond," is both timely and meaningful.

This year marks 70 years of Finland's participation in international crisis management. Our journey began in 1956, when Finnish peacekeepers were deployed to Suez under a UN mandate. Since then, more than 60,000 Finns have served in international missions across Europe, Asia, and Africa-under the UN, the EU, NATO, and the OSCE-as soldiers and civilian experts.

We honor and thank all those who have served with courage, professionalism, and commitment. Finland's participation in crisis management has not come without sacrifice-50 Finnish peacekeepers have lost their lives in the line of duty, and dozens more have been wounded. The personal cost of peace has been considerable.

Many Finns have also contributed through non-governmental organizations, supporting humanitarian relief, education, and post-conflict recovery. Together, these efforts constitute a strong and comprehensive contribution to global stability.

Finland is sometimes called a crisis management "superpower." For a country of our size, our contribution has indeed been significant-but even more importantly, it has been consistent and value-based. Respect for international law, trust in multilateral cooperation, and a belief in shared responsibility continue to guide our actions. Crisis management remains a key instrument of Finland's foreign, security, and defence policy.

Over the decades, crisis management has evolved. It is no longer only about traditional military peacekeeping. Civilian crisis management, police missions, mediation, and support to governance and institutions are now central elements. Sustainable peace requires a comprehensive approach-one that addresses the root causes of conflict and strengthens societies from within. Finland has been among the drivers of this shift.

Gender equality is a vital part of this effort. Women's full, equal, and meaningful participation in peace and security is not only a question of rights, but also of effectiveness. Nearly half of Finland's civilian crisis management experts are women, and we continue to support initiatives such as the Women's Military Peace Operations Course to promote women's leadership in peace operations.

Today, Finland participates in 10 military crisis management operations, with approximately 400 soldiers deployed. Our largest contingent serves in UNIFIL in Lebanon, alongside other key contributions, including KFOR in Kosovo and various forms of participation related to Ukraine.

Civilian crisis management is equally important. Finland deploys around 130 civilian experts annually through the EU, the UN, the OSCE, the ICC, and NATO, particularly in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Recent changes in the security environment have shifted the focus of crisis management closer to Europe. From Finland's perspective, the most significant factors are Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and the increasingly challenging conditions faced by peace operations.

Finland remains firmly committed to supporting a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on international law and the UN Charter. Our support is long-term and responds to evolving military and civilian needs.

In the Middle East, Finnish peacekeepers and experts operate under increasingly difficult conditions. We strongly condemn attacks against UN peacekeepers, including UNIFIL. Their safety must be guaranteed by all parties. I express my deepest condolences for the fallen peacekeepers who were serving under the UN flag.

Finland is a long-standing troop- and police-contributing country to the United Nations. UN peace operations have, over time, succeeded far more often than they have failed. Yet today, geopolitical tensions make consensus and financing more difficult. As a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Finland would bring decades of experience, a constructive mindset, and a strong commitment to practical results.

The review of future UN peace operations offers an important opportunity to ensure that missions remain effective and fit for purpose. Finland has emphasized the need for better command structures and stronger evaluation of impact and effectiveness.

Crisis management itself is changing. Alongside traditional institutions, we see more flexible operations, training missions, and capacity-building efforts-often carried out through partnerships and coalitions. This development is also reflected in the growing role of the European Union.

NATO membership also shapes Finland's engagement. Finland participates in NATO crisis management operations and in security assistance and training for Ukraine. Crisis management and prevention remain a core task of the Alliance.

Dear friends,

Looking ahead, our commitment remains strong. We need the right capabilities, the willingness to learn, and continuous investment in people. This is why this event matters.

To the students and future professionals here today: you are needed. Crisis management requires skills, resilience, and dedication.

To the practitioners: your work makes a real difference, often under challenging conditions.

To our international partners: cooperation is essential-no country can meet today's challenges alone.

And to our national partners: Finland's strength lies in close cooperation across authorities and with civil society.

Seventy years of engagement show what sustained commitment can achieve. But those years also remind us that the task of building peace is never finished.

Let us continue working together-to strengthen peace, support stability, and uphold the principles that truly matter.
Thank you.