Finland's defense capability is to be strengthened due to the threat from Russia, according to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. He is also urging other EU countries to increase their defense spending.
Russia will remain a permanent security threat to Europe, said Orpo at a press conference in connection with a meeting with EU commissioners in Helsinki.
The European Commission's Vice President Henna Virkkunen simultaneously stated that the security situation for the EU is "very bad" and that Finland is located on the frontline of the threat. Among Virkkunen's areas of responsibility are European security, technical independence, and democracy.
Finland's border with Russia is over 1,300 miles long. Currently, the NATO country Finland is allocating around two percent of its GDP to defense.
This we must increase both in the short and long term, said Orpo.
