Finland continues to support NATO Trust Funds
Supporting international security and stability is a foreign policy priority for Finland. By providing continued financial assistance to NATO Trust Fund projects, Finland supports NATO’s efforts to project stability in the Eastern and Southern neighborhoods. In 2018, Finland is stepping up its support to NATO Trust Funds.
Finland has been an active supporter of NATO Trust Funds since their launch in 2000. As an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Finland contributes to the development of the defence and security sectors in NATO’s other partner countries. Over the past 18 years, Finland has provided financial assistance to various projects designed to assist partner countries in areas such as the clearance of mines and explosives, destruction of small weapons and ammunitions and reforming their defence sector.
Finland was also the first partner country to participate in the DCB Trust Fund in 2016. The DCB fund provides financial support to projects under NATO’s DCB initiative for defence and related security capacity building.
In 2018, Finland is stepping up its support to NATO Trust Funds to assist other partner countries in areas such as building integrity, good governance and fighting corruption.
-Finland is a long-standing contributor to NATO’s crisis management operations and an active supporter of NATO’s trust funds projects. Engaging in NATO’s capacity building efforts in the Eastern and Southern neighborhoods is very much in our core interest, as the geographical distance does not isolate us from security threats emanating from regions beyond our immediate neighborhood, said Ambassador Asunmaa
DCB – Promoting stability
Many of the Trust Funds Finland continues to support fall under the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building (DCB) initiative, which is set to support stability and prevent conflicts. The DCB initiative was launched in September 2014 at the NATO Summit in Wales and is one of the core tools for promoting stability and security in NATO’s selected partner countries. DCB reinforces NATO’s commitment to partners and helps project stability by providing support to nations requesting assistance from NATO. DCB helps partners improve their defence and related security capacities, as well as their resilience. It includes various types of support, ranging from strategic advice on defence and security sector reform and institution-building, to development of local forces through education and training, or advice and assistance in specialised areas such as cyber defence.
-Prevention is better than cure and this is where capacity building plays a crucial role. The DCB Initiative is demand-driven and tailored to the needs of the recipient nations based on their specific request. This helps us to ensure that our contribution relies on political commitment and local ownership, said second secretary Sven Kilemet
In 2018, Finland supports the DCB initiative with 90,000 euros. 50,000 euros of the total amount will be used for implementing NATO’s Building Integrity programme activities under Tunisia’s DCB package, which was approved at the Brussels Summit in July 2018. The package is being implemented with the support of NATO Allies and partners, who provide advisors, trainers and coordinators to work with Tunisian authorities, and help fund projects. This DCB package will be implemented mainly through education and training activities and the exchange of expertise.
Supporting Ukraine’s development
Finland is financing two different Trust Funds for Ukraine with a sum of 60, 000 euros. The first one, the Professional Development Programme was officially launched at the High-Level NATO-Ukraine Consultations in October 2005. The aim of this project is to support the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine by recognizing the importance of assisting Ukraine in strengthening civil and democratic control over its security and defence structures. Also by building resilience of the Ukrainian government institutions. The other project was launched in October 2017 as a part of NATO’s approved and endorsed Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine. The aim of the project is to assist in setting the foundations for transformation of Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices.