Finland’s nato Integration

Abstract This paper addresses military innovation in Finland in the context of the country’s nato integration. Finland shifted its security policy course rapidly and dramatically when it applied for nato membership in May 2022, less than three months after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The main argument of the paper is that various military innovations are taking place as Finland – after decades of neutrality and later non-alignment policy – seeks its role within the alliance. However, those innovations are mostly incremental in nature. Many earlier fundaments of Finland’s national defence, such as conscription and models of comprehensive security and comprehensive defence, will remain in place. If they are transformed, it will happen in an evolutionary way, by adjusting existing practices, not by launching revolutions.