Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 24 August 2026.

Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 24 August 2026.

Speech by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission hosted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Helsinki on 24 August 2026. Changes possible during the speech.

Distinguished Ambassadors, dear colleagues at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs,

It's wonderful to see you all again. I have, of course, met with many of you over the past year, either here in Finland or abroad.

When I spoke to you here a year ago, I talked about how the world was undergoing a historic transformation. On my way here today, I thought about how much the world has changed since even then. This has posed challenges for the foreign policy leadership; it has posed challenges for you. We have found ourselves at the heart of value-based realism, a key term used in the Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy.

Perhaps the most important change over the past year has been the in the policies of the United States, where the rhetoric has hardened, politics has become more transactional and national interests are being promoted in a new way. I will return to this again later.

We are living in uncertain times. That was also one of our messages this past spring, when the Government submitted its report to Parliament on changes in the foreign and security policy environment. Thank you to all who participated in putting together the report.

No matter the situation, the Government's job is to keep our eye on the ball and always consider what is in the best interest of Finland and Finns. Keep this in mind in your own reporting - as you have done.

The situation around the world highlights the importance of the work you do every day. Diplomacy, your bread and butter, means building security. I say this even at a time when the current state of central government finances has forced us to make cuts to the operating expenses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Our additional investments in security have focused on so-called hard security. But I would like to emphasise that this doesn't mean your work is any less meaningful.

***

My Government has navigated through an operating environment with no shortage of perils. We took office at a time when Russia's invasion of Ukraine had fundamentally changed our security environment and Finland had just become a member of NATO.

During this term, we have seen many events that directly affected Finland and required the Government to respond and find solutions quickly. I'm talking about damage to our cables and pipelines. I'm talking about instrumentalised migration at our eastern border. I'm talking about Russia's war of aggression spilling over into Finland when Ukrainian drones strayed into our territory in the spring. At the same time, I think it is important to make sure we have the bandwidth to analyse the historical changes described above and their significance for Finland.

Dealing with these matters means dealing with Finland's affairs.

In other words, a lot has happened on our watch over the past three years - and this coming autumn will not be any less eventful.

The world has changed. Not everyone is willing to defend the international rules-based world order. But shared rules are vital for a small country like Finland.

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Geographically speaking, the closest factor creating uncertainty for us is, of course, Russia's full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine. Today happens to be the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. Once again, Ukrainians will be spending it having to fight for that independence.

We have watched Ukraine succeed in combat and maintain the improvements in its position over the summer. Ukraine has also been reassuring in its diplomacy, showing a genuine desire for peace. At the same time, however, we have seen the impacts of war beyond the front. According to the UN, in July of this year, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine rose to the highest level since April 2022. Russia has attacked civilians and civilian and energy infrastructure throughout its full-scale war of aggression, and it is now using ballistic and hypersonic missiles more ruthlessly in its attacks.

Finland has supported Ukraine in a wide variety of ways, but in this context, I would like to highlight the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition, which is jointly chaired by Finland and Ukraine and was established a year ago. In the next few days, Prime Minister Koretsky and I will be sending a letter to several state leaders highlighting the importance of civil defence shelters and inviting them to take part in this work. You, too, have an important role to play in attracting new members.

Supporting Ukraine does more than just that, it supports the future of Europe as a whole. Finland will also continue to support Ukraine militarily while taking responsibility for its own security as a country on the external border of both the EU and NATO.

Ukraine has shown us that the technological development of warfare is real. At the summer meeting of Nordic prime ministers in Denmark last week, we delved deeper into modern drone warfare. We also have to remember that traditional warfare has not gone away. We have recently discussed this challenge here in Finland, too. Mothers and fathers are sitting in this hall wondering how well conscript training in Finland is taking into account the challenges of modern warfare - is our training up to date? Based on my conversations with the Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, I can tell you: it is. And are continuing to invest in it.

Ukraine has developed its defence capability and industry in ways we can learn a lot from in Finland. Now, our goal is to begin industrial cooperation that supports both Ukraine's defence and Finland's defence industry while also preparing us for a new, more technologically sophisticated era of warfare.

***

Russia's broad-spectrum influencing efforts in Europe have intensified. A variety of hybrid activities and acts of sabotage have been directed at critical infrastructure both in Finland and elsewhere in Europe. The outlook on this front is regrettably pessimistic, and we here in Finland should also be aware of this.

Russia's aggression will pose a threat to European security for a long time to come. One day, the war in Ukraine will end. For Finland, this will mean an increase in Russia's military presence in our neighbouring areas, as the garrisons now being built on the other side of the eastern border will be filled with personnel. Of course, we expected this when we joined NATO. And this is what we are preparing for.

A key element of our preparedness is developing our own defence. This is why we are working with Ukraine. This is why we have stepped up our defence by reintroducing anti-personnel mines. And even though Finland does not intend to have nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime, the Government considered it essential for the defence of Finland and NATO that we remove the absolute and categorical ban on nuclear explosives from the legislation this past spring. The principled decisions made by this Government set out our foreign and security policy approach - value-based realism - in concrete terms. We cannot afford to be starry-eyed; we have to be realistic.

In the midst of savings in central government finances, we have chosen to invest in defence so that our "hard" defence expenditure as defined by NATO will be 3.2 per cent of GDP in 2029. We are talking about billions of euros in additional funds. We are not doing this just to meet NATO's targets. We are doing this for Finland and the Finnish people. These funds will allow us to build credible deterrence. After the procurement of F35 jets and naval vessels, we are investing in development and procurement for the Army. We must also respond to the changing face of warfare - in addition to the drones I mentioned earlier, we need sufficient capabilities in cyber and space. We must act quickly, and fortunately, Finland has excellent expertise in these fields as well. In addition, we are investing to ensure we have people who know how to use the equipment we procure.

Finland is not the only country spending significant sums on defence. This offers enormous opportunities for our defence industry. And not just opportunities but concrete trade. The Association of Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries (AFDA) recently reported that its member companies' turnover had increased by around 42 per cent last year from the year before. About 55 per cent of this was due to exports. I know that many of you have worked to make this a reality, because companies have reached out to me to thank me for the work you have done. Keep it up!

More broadly, it is important that we continue to invest in total defence and the resilience of civil society. In this respect, Finland already clearly exceeds NATO's 1.5 per cent target, having reached 2.4 per cent this year.

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I understand that young diplomats are taught on the first days of the training course for newly recruited diplomats that the Nordic countries are a Finnish diplomat's best friends. I can confirm this. The summer meeting of Nordic prime ministers in Copenhagen was like a meeting of close family. We share the same value base. We support one another. We are also key supporters of Ukraine.

Nordic cooperation has become even more important for Finland now that we are all members of NATO. We share the same operating environment and face the same threat landscape - we serve as a bulwark on the eastern border of Europe and NATO, from the Arctic region to the Baltic Sea. Our strengths in defence - on land, in the air and at sea - complement one another. We have invested and continue to invest in military mobility. We plan our defence together and carry out exercises together. Finland's closest individual partner, Sweden, is the framework nation of FLF Finland. In other words, this group of countries forms a strong Nordic fortress. I dare say that we can trust this group in any situation, even if the world around us is wavering. I find this idea very meaningful and reassuring.

***

If a meeting between the Nordic countries like a close family gathering, a meeting with the EU Member States is like a gathering of extended family. We are united by history. We may disagree, however, when it comes to spending.

In our meetings this autumn, the EU leaders will discuss the next multiannual financial framework. Finland's guiding principle is clear: European public funds must be used efficiently and responsibly. Finnish taxpayers' money, which we use carefully at home, must not be wasted at the European level.

More money should be channelled to defence and security and to the seeds of new growth: research, innovation and competitiveness. At the same time, we need to make choices and cut down on less important expenditures. Cooperation with the like-minded countries is very important. This week, I will travel to Berlin to meet with the German and Austrian Federal Chancellors and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands to discuss common objectives for the EU budget.
In addition to the MFF negotiations, we are facing a number of issues that put demands on the Member States.

We must continue to offer Ukraine our strongest possible support for as long as necessary. I cannot stress this enough. I must also reiterate when arms cease before long, Russia will rebuild its military power and continue to exert pressure on the West in a variety of ways. Because only when all EU countries have internalised this will we understand why we need to strengthen our defence, not only in Finland and other border countries but in Europe as a whole. More money for defence, more weapons and munitions produced in Europe, a stronger defence industry and critical infrastructure. We are, of course, already working towards this. If we look at what Europe has already done, we can see that we already have taken massive strides, both financially and through concrete action. But that is not enough, we need to do more.

This summer, the border crisis came to our doorstep in Ceuta, Spain. A variety of assessments have been made as to what caused this chain of events, but one conclusion is clear: free movement within Europe is not possible without effective external borders. At the same time, we need to remember that in situations like these, an individual Member State must not be left to fend for itself. I remember Prime Minister Sánchez saying in the press room at Kesäranta in March 2025 that Finland's eastern border is also Spain's border. In the same spirit, I considered it important that the EU quickly provide assistance to Spain.

Finland does not want and will not allow a new uncontrolled migration crisis to emerge. With this in mind, the Government has also stepped up Finland's border security in recent years: we have enhanced security at the eastern border with new legislation and allocated increased resources to the Border Guard. Every Member State on the EU's external border should be able to do the same. We need to be able to protect the security of Finns and Europeans in all situations. This requires a different kind of preparedness than before. And the EU has already done a lot in this respect. I say this as the Minister of the Interior who managed the migration crisis in 2015-2016. At that time, we did not have the tools for a situation where a record number of asylum seekers arrived in Finland, first through Europe and then via the eastern border. Things are different now. The EU's new Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force in June of this year.

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This summer, many people sitting in this room right now experienced exceptional heatwaves in different parts of Europe. It is undeniable that the climate is warming. Drought, forest fires and long heatwaves are becoming more common. In Southern Europe, we have already seen the impacts on the water supply, agriculture and food production. Over time, we in the Nordic region will also be more and more affected.

For this reason, we need to cut our emissions even further and transition to clean energy sources in a way that is sensible and realistic. Our climate policy should allow Finnish industry to succeed and ensure that Europe can stay competitive.

In Finland, electricity prices are already among the lowest in Europe, as we are increasingly less dependent on imported fossil fuels. We will continue to work to lower the price of electricity. We want to see more nuclear power in Finland and elsewhere in Europe. Last year, Finland attracted a record number of investments in clean industry and energy production, totalling over eight billion euros.

Clean energy is also a security issue. The less dependent Europe is on fossil fuels and their volatile world market prices, the stronger and more independent we can be.

One of Finland's foreign policy mantras is that, as a small country, we must have a seat and exert as much influence as possible at the tables where decisions concerning us are made. This is exactly what Finland has done in the EU in recent years. We have had clear priorities when exerting influence on EU policy. We have highlighted the importance of security at the eastern border, the long-term threat posed by Russia, the need to strengthen European defence and the strategic importance of northern regions. Finland is listened to in Europe. In other words, we will continue to use our seat at the table and highlight key issues in all groups of countries that are important to us.

***

Dear friends,

The transatlantic operating environment and its transformation have been a topic of much discussion here in Finland. This is perfectly understandable - we are unlikely to see a day when President Trump is not on the news. The way he acts and speaks is different from what we are used to.
Finland has been building relations with the United States at many different levels for a long time. Our cooperation with the United States is closer now than ever before. We are a reliable ally. The DCA gives us clear guidelines for implementing our defence cooperation. The United States is interested in Finnish expertise and technology, with our icebreaking know-how at the forefront.

All of this provides a good basis for dialogue on issues where we disagree. And if necessary, we are prepared to remind the United States that you can't treat allies however you want. At the European Council in January this year, we were very united and clear on the fact that the EU Member States are prepared to take tough trade policy measures if necessary. Luckily, we didn't need to do so. Still, that meeting sent a clear message.

But Europe is not the United States' top priority. This has been the case for a while now. This means that Europe needs to take greater responsibility for security and defence on its continent.

***

Esteemed Ambassadors,

Amidst the hectic situation on the home front, a Prime Minister should also meet with colleagues outside the Nordic family and beyond the round table at the Europa building. This year, I have met with the leaders of both China and India - twice with Prime Minister Modi. In December, I first visited Angola for the EU-Africa Summit, after which I continued on to South Africa.

It is clear that China is building its position on its own terms. Nevertheless, I consider our dialogue important. My main message to President Xi was that, if it wanted to, China could end Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine.

The negotiations on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement came to a successful conclusion on 27 January 2026. In my first meeting with Modi in February, I proposed that we aim to double trade between Finland and India. Modi seized on this right away and said we should at least double it, reiterating the target in his own tweet. This level of ambition is not unjustified and should be expanded beyond traditional trade in goods.

Unfortunately, the situation in the Middle East continues to be unstable. Finland's key message has always focused on the need to break the cycle of escalation in the Middle East. It is clear that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon and must not become a new nuclear state. This is central both for the Middle East and for global security in general. We are also concerned about freedom of navigation and safety in the Red Sea region, which has wide-ranging global impacts including for us here in Finland.

As part of the EU, Finland supports the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan put forth by the United States. Together with the EU and the rest of the international community, we are also seeking ways to influence Israel. Finland's long-standing position is that we support a two-state solution and the international cooperation needed to achieve it.

To ordinary citizens, emphasising diplomacy and the international rules-based system can sometimes sound like, well, diplomacy, but the people in this room know better than anyone that these are ultimately the principles on which we in Finland rely.

Multilateral cooperation is in a period of transformation. A year ago, the UN Secretary-General and I also discussed how he is reforming his organisation, because, if we are being honest, this work is very much needed. Finland also has its own views on this. We support the comprehensive reform and enhancement of the UN system, including the reform of the UN Security Council, restrictions on veto rights and a moderate increase in the number of permanent members. Our aim is to improve the legitimacy and credibility of the UN, ensuring that can function effectively and that international law is realised. This is also a key reason why Finland is standing for election to the UN Security Council for 2029-2030. Let's kick our campaign into high gear!

***

Distinguished Ambassadors,

At previous meetings of heads of missions, I have usually discussed the current situation in Finland. I thought I would do so this year, too. This also makes it easier for you to export Finland's way of thinking to your host countries.

My first message is that Finland's economy is finally growing. Finland's economic growth is among the best in Europe, and in the first quarter of the year, it was the fastest in the EU Member States. Now we know that the growth in question started back in 2024. Economists are revising this and next year's growth forecasts upwards.

Finland's gross domestic product exceeded the 2008 level for the first time this year. The Finnish Commerce Federation predicts that retail sales will grow this year and next at an annual rate of over two per cent. Exports of goods and services to the rest of the world reached a new peak from April through June, when export value rose to 34.6 billion euros. It is clear that companies have done the most work for this growth, but I would also like to thank you for your role in this. Together with Finnish business leaders, I have travelled around the world selling our top expertise. I know you support our companies every day.

We are now seeing the fruits of your support.

We expect domestic demand to pick up even further. Wages have risen, purchasing power has recovered from the low point we saw during the previous electoral term, and Finns' earnings are expected to increase by more than three per cent next year. We have eased the taxation of labour, and price increases have remained moderate.

Despite these growth figures, it is currently estimated that we will need to strengthen general government finances by 8-11 billion euros a year in the next parliamentary term. This is a significant adjustment, but it is not record-breaking or even unprecedented in European history.

We must continue our reform policies in Finland. We have the skills. The clean transition, disruptive technologies, defence industry, just to name a few.
We must look after our competitiveness and maintain our high level of competence. We are investing in research and development over the long term because we need to create an even better environment for cutting-edge technologies to emerge and be developed in Finland. We need more top experts from abroad. We need more investments in Finland. We have the stable operating environment and expertise needed to profile ourselves as a country worth investing in.

I am proud of how well Finland has fared in the current situation. Think about it - a closed eastern border, behind which Russia is waging a full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine for the fifth year now. Numerous hybrid influence efforts and crises. Looking back, these developments have been dizzying. And in this challenging situation, we have not sat around and complained, we have acted. With a cool head and a realistic attitude.

***

Dear Ambassadors,

As I come to the end of my speech, it's time to offer praise. I usually mention a few names here. This year, there is only one. I would like to extend my warmest gratitude to State Secretary Jukka Salovaara, whose appointment to the prominent post of EU Ambassador to the UK can also be considered a victory for Finland's advocacy in the EU. It is clear, however, that it would not have been possible without Jukka's own skills and competence. Thank you, Jukka, for all the discussions and wise words, and for the good advice you have given to my Government, too.

And thank you to all whom I have had the privilege of meeting this year. I highly appreciate how dedicated all of you at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are to your work. Ambassadors, you have no idea how much I enjoy our conversations in the back seats of cars as we go from one event to another during my visits. And when I come to visit, I always say that I only see a small fraction of the work done at our missions abroad. In summary: you are doing a lot around the world. Your work helps decision-makers look after Finland's security and make the right choices. You play a key role in promoting Finnish exports. You are the top brand ambassadors for Finland in your host countries. Let's continue this work together!

Thank you.