Finland and Israel Extend Defense Cooperation Through 2034
Finland and Israel have extended their memorandum on defense research, development, and procurement cooperation until 2034. The agreement was finalized in early 2024 through an exchange of official letters between the two defense ministries. The Finnish Ministry of Defense did not publicly announce the extension of the document.
The original memorandum, signed in 2013, was previously renewed for five-year periods. The updated agreement establishes a joint coordination group scheduled to meet at least annually to oversee ongoing projects. Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen stated that the extension is a standard procedure, noting that Helsinki maintains similar agreements with approximately 40 other nations.
The bilateral cooperation involves concrete military-industrial ties, with Israeli media reporting 23 active joint projects. For instance, Finnish Patria AMV XP 8×8 armored vehicles are equipped with the Trophy active protection system manufactured by Israel’s Rafael. Over the past decade, Finland has secured defense contracts with Israel exceeding 800 million euros in value.
The most significant recent transaction was Finland’s 2023 acquisition of the Israeli David’s Sling air defense system for 316 million euros. Extending the memorandum amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza has drawn strong opposition in Finland. Representatives of the Left Alliance and the Green Party criticized the deepening of military ties and the lack of transparency surrounding the decision.
