14-07-2025
Why Everyone's Turning to Finland on National Security
What if a nation's defense isn't all about fighter jets, frigates and nuclear submarines?
Small countries with big threats on their borders worked this out a long time ago. As far back as the 1950s, Finland urged citizens to prepare for disruptions and emergencies following World War II, when it was forced to cede territory to the Soviet Union and then live in its shadow during the Cold War. Its latest push began in 2017, when the government recognized that the main danger was not just conventional war, but also terrorism, disinformation, food and cyber security, pandemics and natural disasters. Facing those threats takes more than military readiness — it also takes civilian preparedness.
