Foreign policy and security policy

Finland’s foreign and security policy aims at preserving its independence and the democratic core values of society and promoting the well-being and security of its citizens.


Finland’s foreign and security policy aims at preserving its independence and the democratic core values of society and promoting the well-being and security of its citizens.

As a Member State of the European Union and a member of the international community, Finland exercises foreign policy with a view to securing its national interests and endeavors to contribute to world peace.

Foreign and security policy is based on good bilateral and international relations, a strong role in the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the EU, effective multilateral cooperation and credible national defence.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto visits Iraq

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto is visiting Iraq. During the visit, Foreign Minister Haavisto will have meetings with the country’s leadership and officially open the Finnish Embassy in Baghdad, which was reopened in autumn 2019. He will also meet the Finnish Crisis Management Force in Iraq.

Iraq is located in Europe’s neighbouring region and it is an important country geopolitically. Its stability and the start of reconstruction are strongly in the interest of Finland and the whole European Union. Counter-terrorism as part of international operations in Iraq strengthens Finland’s security, too.

The main purpose of Foreign Minister Haavisto’s visit is to establish relations with Iraq’s new Government and to discuss topical bilateral and regional questions. For security reasons, we will provide more information about the visit afterwards.

Inquiries: Riikka Eela, Director, Unit for the Middle East, tel. +358 50 469 9692 and Jeri Aalto, Special Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 50 472 0725. The Foreign Ministry's email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.