Finland and the Indo-Pacific region : Policy outline for the Indo-Pacific region

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs' first comprehensive policy outline for the Indo-Pacific region highlights the region's growing economic and geopolitical importance. Finland's objective is to advance its foreign and security policy goals, strengthen regional stability and security, and support the rules-based international order. At the same time, the aim is to deepen political dialogue and make use of the region's commercial, economic, and technological opportunities to promote Finnish expertise, exports, and innovation. The policy supports the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy and seeks to strengthen resilience across economic, political, societal, and environmental dimensions. A key objective is to reduce dependence on China and deepen partnerships with countries in the region. The region's security environment is complex: in addition to traditional inter-state disputes, it is affected by hybrid threats, cyberattacks, radicalization, and the risks posed by climate change, particularly for small island states. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has highlighted the close connection between European and Indo-Pacific security, and geopolitical competition between the United States and China is further increasing tensions.