Current affairs
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29.10.2026
Finland supports UN Women initiative to strengthen women’s participation in peace processes
Finland is providing EUR 200,000 to a UN Women initiative aimed at promoting women’s participation in mediation and peace processes. Finland is strongly committed to promoting human rights and gender equality through its foreign policy and has long supported the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security agenda.
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13.10.2026
Foreign Ministry introduces AI service for processing classified information
Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs has introduced its AI Assistant UMAI to an initial group of pilot users. The service enables the use of artificial intelligence to process information at national security classification level IV in a secure environment. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Government ICT Centre Valtori are acting as pilot organisations in the development of a common secure AI platform for central government.
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16.9.2026
Finland to help the Pacific and Indonesia prepare for climate change and extreme weather, with Finnish Meteorological Institute in project implementation
Finland will allocate EUR 2.55 million for preparedness for extreme weather events in Indonesia and the island nations of the Pacific. The Finnish Meteorological Institute will implement the PACIDFIN project together with the Pacific Meteorological Council and the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics.
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12.8.2026
Joint Statement on Notifications of Ballistic Missile Launches
The joint statement on Notifications of Ballistic Missile Launches was released by 41 Governments, and it was delivered at the August 11, 2026, meeting of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
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26.7.2026
Aalto Works inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to inscribe the Aalto Works on the World Heritage List at its 48th session held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 19 to 29 July 2026. The property comprises 13 modern architectural sites across Finland designed by Alvar, Aino and Elissa Aalto.
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15.6.2026
Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ policy on Finland’s Indo-Pacific approach: Prioritising stability and cooperation
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has adopted Finland’s first comprehensive Indo-Pacific policy, responding to the region’s growing economic and geopolitical significance.
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5.6.2026
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4.6.2026
Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces marked in Canberra
The Embassy of Finland has hosted a reception at the Official Residence in Canberra to mark the Flag Day of the Finnish Defence Forces for the first time, bringing together representatives from the Australian Defence Force, the defence and diplomatic community, and broader security partners.
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18.5.2026
Pop-up Passport Service - Auckland 2026
The Embassy of Finland in Canberra will conduct a pop-up passport service to Auckland in July 2026. Passport services by the Embassy of Finland enable citizens of Finland to apply for a Finnish passport in the city that the mission takes place. This means a trip to Canberra can be avoided. Services provided during a passport mission are restricted to passport and identity card applications.
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3.5.2026
World Press Freedom Day highlights importance of freedom of expression for democracy and security
World Press Freedom Day is celebrated on 3 May. The day reminds us of the importance of free and independent media as the foundation for democracy, the rule of law and an open society. Finland promotes media freedom, which is fundamental to freedom of speech and expression, as part of its foreign and security policy.