Finland and Israel extend defense cooperation agreement until 2034

Finland and Israel have extended their defense cooperation agreement for another decade, spanning until 2034. Although the memorandum was signed in February 2024, the details were not made public by the Finnish Ministry of Defense until recently.

The agreement covers military procurement, research, development, and industrial cooperation. Significant past and ongoing acquisitions include the David's Sling air defense system, Spike anti-tank missiles, and Gabriel anti-ship missiles. Current defense projects between the two nations number approximately 20.

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen stated that the agreement is not a dramatic policy shift, noting that Finland requires Israeli weapons maintenance and spare parts. However, the revelation has drawn criticism from opposition parties, such as the Left Alliance and the Greens, who argue that continuing such close military ties is inappropriate given the ongoing conflict in Gaza.