Speeches
Speech by Permanent Secretary Arto Räty at the European Security: Military and Political Approach -conference in Moscow
Permanent Secretary, Lieutenant General Arto Räty
Ministry of Defence of Finland
International Conference of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
EUROPEAN SECURITY: MILITARY AND POLITICAL APPROACH
May 22-24, 2013
Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow
EVOLVING SECURITY ENVIRONMENT – FINNISH PERSPECTIVE
Let me begin by going back in time to Helsinki 40 years ago: the first phase of the European Conference for Security and Cooperation was launched in July 1973. The Final Act addressed European security, cooperation in the fields of economy, science, environmental protection, human rights and democracy. Already at that time the concept of comprehensive approach was brought up.
Today’s world is naturally very different from those days - but the headlines we see and the concerns we have are not necessarily so very different. Globalisation and interdependence have a direct impact on our daily lives and the rules by which we play. No-one can be isolated from the changing world. This concerns both great powers and small countries alike. Let’s take Finland as an example. Because of our Northern geographical location and export-oriented open economy, we rely strongly on disturbance-free air and maritime transport, as well as access to internet and telecommunications.
Our position – Where we are and with whom?
The operating environment of a small country such as Finland is often described through the neighbouring region. For Finland, there are no elements that directly threaten our national security today. The hardships we face are more in terms of common problems, such as the economic crisis in the euro zone. However, Finland’s security cannot be examined as an isolated entity. The security challenges are born in a wider international context, which is shaped by geopolitics and interdependencies.
Every country is affected by ecological, societal, economical and technological changes. Implications of cross-border threats challenge us all. Free trade, availability of energy and the safety of supply routes are increasingly significant security questions. It is important that free access to the Global Commons – maritime, air, space and cyber domains – is secured also in the future.
Welfare and wealth are increasing globally. But at the same time, the speed of change as well as uneven distribution of welfare continues to increase. Our challenges are connected to the progress of globalisation and interdependencies. This progress is always faster than the building of institutions we need for governance and administration. This emphasizes the need for commonly accepted rules and operation modes.
On the European level the development of the European Union, Nordic cooperation, transatlantic
relations and cooperation with Russia are of particular importance for Finland.
Membership in the European Union represents a fundamental choice of values with a strong security policy dimension. The main topic today is, of course, economic austerity and its political implications. The Union has focused on solving internal problems, which has partly occurred at the expense of external activities.
Security and defence policy is, naturally, an essential part of Union’s external actions. One goal during the European Council meeting in December 2013 will be to take concrete steps in defence cooperation. The agenda includes deepening our cooperation in the following fields: the common security and defence policy, comprehensive approach in crisis management, development of military capabilities, and the promotion of European security and defence industry.
Military capabilities are part of the comprehensive approach in crisis management. For example, the European Union’s measures in the Horn of Africa to stop piracy, or to stabilise the Sahel region would not otherwise be possible. Good examples of cooperation with Partners are the ways the EU and Russia have acted together in Chad and in countering piracy.
Finland participates actively in the wide-ranging development of NATO’s partnership policy. This cooperation has lasted already for two decades. Participation in crisis management operations plays a central role in this framework.
The development of security in the Baltic Sea highlights cooperation on the regional level. Based on mutual interests, established cooperation promotes security and strengthens regional stability. Ultimately, this contributes to development on the European level in a wider sense. I will address the Nordic cooperation in more detail later on.
Comprehensive Approach – from policy to practice
I would like to highlight four topical examples, where international cooperation would greatly benefit from a truly comprehensive approach.
The first example is the Arctic sea area with the many challenges and opportunities we will face, once the waters open for commercial traffic around the year.
[The entire Finnish population leads a very Arctic lifestyle - I should note that one third of the world populations living above the parallel 60 degrees north, running just below Helsinki, are Finns. We have ample examples of “cold-how”, by which I mean the extensive cold weather expertise.
The Arctic region will maintain its strategic significance also in the future. It is a largely accepted understanding that a military conflict is very unlikely in the Arctic. The real security challenges range from Search and Rescue to man-made or natural disaster response, environmental protection and border control. We have only a limited capability to address these concerns. This is why well-functioning structures and practical cooperation are ever more important.
The Arctic Council is the key instrument for taking forward cooperation in the Arctic. The Council met last week in Kiruna and admitted new permanent observers to the Council, a development which Finland finds very important for the future of the region. In the coming years, the Arctic will offer many opportunities for regional cooperation. Many cooperative models already exist in other regions, and we should learn from them in the Arctic context. Lessons can be learned for example from the Baltic Sea, where day-to-day cooperation runs smoothly between the nations and between national agencies.
Common situational awareness and exchange of information create a basis for actions to enhance security in the Arctic. This cannot be achieved on purely national basis or in stovepipe structures. Common understanding cannot be created without the involvement of all stakeholders, including the military, which has a crucial role to play in assisting civilian authorities.
Secondly, Cyber security involves major challenges for our comprehensive security. Finland’s cyber security strategy was published at the beginning of this year. Preparing for cyber threats must involve the entire society and not just authorities. Professional criminality and aggressive state actors are an increasingly active trend. In order to develop a secure cyber domain, resources, legislation and close national and international cooperation play a key role. Security should be combined with free access to internet. Companies, governments and citizens all benefit from this.
Thirdly, Afghanistan is an example of a crisis where it is in everyone’s interests to stabilise and develop a country and region. The current year is highly important for Afghanistan’s future development. Handing over the responsibility for security, transforming the international military presence, as well as presidential elections next year are significant milestones. We must continue to support Afghanistan so that we can anticipate and prevent the impact of the elements that undermine security.
Finally, the proliferation of fissile material and weapons of mass destruction continues to be a serious global threat. The international community should constantly focus on effective counter-proliferation, multilateral arms control and disarmament. Tactical nuclear weapons should be included in negotiations.
Wider Security Perspective – risk management together in cooperation
Divisions between soft and hard security no longer make sense. State-level preparedness for disturbances happens more and more through international cooperation. External and internal security is increasingly interwoven, and the importance of preventing cross-border threats is highlighted. I may somewhat simplify by noting that various risks and threats are increasingly interlinked and, similarly, so should our response to them be.
Preparedness in the Finnish society has always been based on the principle of comprehensive approach. The functions vital to our society are secured through coordinated efforts of authorities, the business community, non-governmental organisations and citizens in close national and international cooperation.
Unfortunately, real-life events seldom follow the guidelines provided by administration or markets. Security of supply and energy security, for example, are factors that naturally affect our citizens. The growing speed of communication improves the cooperation of security actors. At the same time, it is more and more difficult to control the spreading of disinformation. As chairman of the Security Committee I frequently face questions related to this development.
Military defence is a key element in the comprehensive security of society. Finland has been consistent in maintaining its fundamental defence solutions. One of them is general conscription, which also improves the overall crisis readiness of the entire society.
[Preparedness for extensive security risks requires also that defence administration is networked in a profound way both on national and international levels. For Finland, participation in the ISAF operation in Afghanistan has been an important tool in maintaining and developing the multinational interoperability of our forces. We must ensure that the valuable lessons learned are shared also in the future. Regular and demanding multinational training and exercises is the key to maintaining interoperability.]
At the beginning of May the Finnish Parliament discussed the Government’s security and defence policy White Book. Finland’s security policy encompasses both actively creating security and anticipating and responding to security threats. This is one of the key messages in the document. Issues that were specifically brought up included for example cyber security, security of supply, resources of defence, and the importance of defence cooperation.
The Nordic cooperation has roused a lot of interest and questions. I have to say that there have been no radical shifts. This forum has existed already for more than five decades. Security and defence policy is a natural domain in deepening Nordic cooperation. Our geographical closeness, strong cultural ties, shared values and needs, as well as a common operating environment provide a solid basis.
Our security policy and defence solutions are not identical. However, the fact that some Nordic countries are members in the EU and others in NATO does not create obstacles to cooperation. On the contrary, pragmatic and flexible Nordic cooperation enhances regional stability and security.
In 2013 Finland holds the rotating chair of the Nordic Defence Cooperation. Our emphasis lies on the development of capabilities, which complements the capabilities-related cooperation within NATO and the EU. This is not about creating a defence alliance or regionalisation of security. Similar regional arrangements take place also in other parts of Europe.
We all share the will to build security, perceive, prevent and, if necessary, deal with risks, threats and the aftermath of crises. All this requires cooperation, the importance of which simply increases in financially challenging times. New kinds of threats require new kinds of solutions, and it pays to reflect on them together.