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.

The foundation of Finland’s Indo-Pacific policy is to promote Finland’s foreign and security policy objectives, to strengthen regional stability and security, and to reinforce the rules-based international system. The aim is also to deepen foreign and security policy dialogue and to leverage the commercial, economic, and technological opportunities offered by the Indo-Pacific region to promote Finnish expertise, exports, and innovation, and to strengthen Finland’s role in the region.

Finland’s Indo-Pacific policy supports and complements the EU’s Indo-Pacific cooperation strategy. Its goal is to strengthen resilience at the economic, political, societal, and environmental levels, reduce strategic dependence on China, and deepen partnerships with countries in the region.

The Indo-Pacific region is home to around 60% of the world’s population and produces a corresponding share of global GDP and emissions. The region’s stability is crucial to the entire international system and global trade, and its importance will continue to grow in the future.

Security challenges in the region are diverse. Traditional inter-state disputes are combined with hybrid threats, cyberattacks, radicalism, and serious risks caused by climate change, particularly for small island states.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its consequences have further highlighted the close connection between European and Indo-Pacific security. Geopolitical competition between the United States and China continues to increase tensions.

“In Finland and more broadly across Europe, the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region is growing. The Indo-Pacific is no longer a distant horizon; its development directly affects European security,” Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen states.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio emphasizes the region’s commercial importance for Finland: “Trade with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as investment, supply chains, and innovation, offer significant opportunities for Finnish companies and expertise. The EU’s free trade agreements with countries in the region provide further opportunities to promote exports and investment.”