Why Indo-Pacific security matters to Finland

Why should the Indo-Pacific matter to the security of Finland, on the other side of the world? It is a reasonable question, to be greeted with a healthy dose of Nordic scepticism. Finland is a small power with finite security capabilities and a pressing strategic problem in its neighbourhood. But in a world of connectivity and geopolitical contestation, regional security dynamics cannot be compartmentalised. What occurs in Europe – notably the cascading consequences of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine – matters to the security of Asia and the world. And what about developments in the Asia-centric maritime super region now known as the Indo-Pacific? These have their own implications for every nation with a stake in global stability, prosperity and a rules-based order, a system where the outcomes of differences among states not determined by power alone. Already there have been hints of linkages between Finnish and Indo-Pacific security. In October 2023, the sabotage of an undersea cable in the Gulf of Finland, reportedly by the anchor of a Chinese cargo ship, raised concerns about Russia-China strategic partnership manifesting in unfriendly Chinese security activity in European waters. In December 2022, in a visit to Australia and New Zealand, Finland’s then Prime Minister Sanna Marin called for greater solidarity among democracies regardless of geographical distance. She warned against economic dependence on authoritarian power and urged diversification of supply chains and greater technology cooperation between European and Australasian partners. More recently, the Finnish government of Petteri Orpo, elected in 2023, has signalled a growing priority for defence and security in the nation’s international affairs. A narrow trade focus on relations with Asia is now a thing of the past.