Finland quietly extends defence partnership with Israel

Finland and Israel have quietly agreed to extend their defense partnership for ten years until 2034. The extension of the memorandum of understanding covers cooperation in defense materiel, research, development, and procurement of military equipment. Finland announced the extension, which has gone largely unnoticed, as the Ministry of Defence did not make a public statement.

The agreement, originally drafted in 2013, came into effect shortly before the Gaza conflict escalated, with tens of thousands of civilians killed and allegations of genocide against Israel mounting. Finland's Defence Minister, Antti Häkkänen, approved the memorandum, stating it is a routine arrangement between countries engaged in defense trade.

The agreement establishes a joint Finnish-Israeli coordination group, meeting at least once a year, with Finland represented by defence ministry official Olli Ruutu. Finland, which has a long-standing partnership with Israel, is also exploring potential business relationships with Israeli military companies. Despite international criticism, Finland remains committed to the agreement and will continue to rely on Israeli defense technology for maintenance and upgrades of existing systems.