Foreign relations of Finland

The foreign relations of Finland are the responsibility of the president of Finland, who leads foreign policy in cooperation with the government. Implicitly the government is responsible for internal policy and decision making in the European Union. Within the government, preparative discussions are conducted in the government committee of foreign and security policy (ulko- ja turvallisuuspoliittinen ministerivaliokunta), which includes the Prime Minister and at least the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defence, and at most four other ministers as necessary.[1] The committee meets with the President as necessary. Laws concerning foreign relations are discussed in the parliamentary committee of foreign relations (ulkoasiainvaliokunta, utrikesutskottet). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs implements the foreign policy.

During the Cold War, Finland's foreign policy was based on official neutrality between the Western powers and the Soviet Union, while simultaneously stressing Nordic cooperation in the framework of the Nordic Council and cautious economic integration with the West as promoted by the Bretton-Woods Agreement and the free trade treaty with the European Economic Community. Finland shares this history with close neighbour Sweden, which Finland was a part of until the split of the Swedish empire in 1809. Finland did not join the Soviet Union's economic sphere (Comecon) but remained a free-market economy and conducted bilateral trade with the Soviet Union. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Finland unilaterally abrogated the last restrictions imposed on it by the Paris peace treaties of 1947 and the Finno-Soviet Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. The government filed an application for membership in the European Union (EU) three months after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and became a member in 1995. Finland did not attempt to join NATO, even though post-Soviet countries on the Baltic Sea and elsewhere joined. Nevertheless, defence policymakers have quietly converted to NATO equipment and contributed troops.

President Martti Ahtisaari and the coalition governments led Finland closer to the core EU in the late 1990s. Finland was considered a cooperative model state, and Finland did not oppose proposals for a common EU defence policy.[2] This was reversed in the 2000s, when Tarja Halonen and Erkki Tuomioja made Finland's official policy to resist other EU members' plans for common defense.[2] However, Halonen allowed Finland to join European Union Battlegroups in 2006 and the NATO Response Force in 2008.

Relations with Russia are cordial and common issues include bureaucracy (particularly at the Vaalimaa border crossing), airspace violations, development aid Finland gives to Russia (especially in environmental problems that affect Finland), and Finland's energy dependency on Russian gas and electricity. Behind the scenes, the administration has witnessed a resurrection of Soviet-era tactics. The National Security Agency, Finnish Security Intelligence Service, estimates that the known number of Russian agents from Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and GRU now exceeds Cold War levels and there are unknown numbers of others.[3]

As of March 2011 Finland maintains diplomatic relations with all UN member states.[4]

History

President of Latvia Jānis Čakste and President of Finland Lauri Kristian Relander during Relander's 1926 official visit to Latvia. In the background, the Foreign Minister of Finland Eemil Nestor Setälä to the right.

After the Second World War, J. K Paasikivi (in the middle), the 7th President of Finland, was remembered as a main architect of Finland's foreign policy, especially with the Soviet Union.[5]

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2016

After independence from Russia in 1917, the Finnish Civil War, including interventions by Imperial Germany and Soviet Russia, and failure of the Communist revolution, resulted in the official ban on Communism, and strengthening relations with Western countries. Overt alliance with Germany was not possible due to the result of the First World War, but in general the period of 1918 to 1939 was characterised by economic growth and increasing integration to the Western world economy. Relations with Soviet Russia from 1918 to 1939 were icy; voluntary expeditions to Russia called heimosodat ended only in 1922, four years after the conclusion of the Finnish Civil War. However, attempts to establish military alliances were unsuccessful. Thus, when the Winter War broke out, Finland was left alone to resist the Soviet attack. Later, during the Continuation War, Finland declared "co-belligerency" with Nazi Germany, and allowed Northern Finland to be used as a German attack base. The peace settlement in 1944 with the Soviet Union led to the Lapland War in 1945, where Finland fought Germans in northern Finland.

From the end of the Continuation War with the Soviet Union in 1944 until 1991, the policy was to avoid superpower conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Western powers and the Soviet Union. Although the country was culturally, socially, and politically Western, Finns realised they had to live in peace with the USSR and take no action that might be interpreted as a security threat. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up dramatic new possibilities for Finland and has resulted in the Finns actively seeking greater participation in Western political and economic structures. The popular support for the strictly self-defensive doctrine remains.

2000 constitution

In the 2000 constitution, where diverse constitutional laws were unified into one statute, the leading role of the President was slightly moderated. However, because the constitution still stipulates only that the President leads foreign policy and the government internal policy, the responsibility over European Union affairs is not explicitly resolved. Implicitly this belongs to the powers of the government. In a cohabitation situation as with Matti Vanhanen's recent second government right-wing government and left-wing President Tarja Halonen, there can be friction between government ministers and the president.

The arrangement has been criticised by Risto E. J. Penttilä for not providing a simple answer of who's in charge.[2]

Multilateral relations

Finnish foreign policy emphasises its participation in multilateral organisations. Finland joined the United Nations in 1955 and the European Union in 1995. As noted, the country also is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace as well as an observer in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. The military has been prepared to be more compatible with NATO, as co-operation with NATO in peacekeeping is needed, but military alliance does not have popular support. Political scientist Teija Tiilikainen has attributed tensions like this one to the importance that Finland's political identity places on sovereignty and the (sometimes competing) stress it places on international cooperation.[6]

In the European Union, Finland is a member of the Eurozone, and in addition, the Schengen treaty abolishing passport controls. 60% of foreign trade is to the EU. Other large trade partners are Russia and the United States.

Finland is well represented in the UN civil service in proportion to its population and belongs to several of its specialised and related agencies. Finnish troops have participated in United Nations peacekeeping activities since 1956, and the Finns continue to be one of the largest per capita contributors of peacekeepers in the world. Finland is an active participant in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and in early 1995 assumed the co-chairmanship of the OSCE's Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Cooperation with the other Scandinavian countries also is important to Finland, and it has been a member of the Nordic Council since 1955. Under the council's auspices, the Nordic countries have created a common labor market and have abolished immigration controls among themselves. The council also serves to coordinate social and cultural policies of the participating countries and has promoted increased cooperation in many fields.

In addition to the organisations already mentioned, Finland is a member of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the International Finance Corporation, the International Development Association, the Bank for International Settlements, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Council of Europe, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Finland has moved steadily towards integration into Western institutions and abandoned its formal policy of neutrality, which has been recast as a policy of military nonalliance coupled with the maintenance of a credible, independent defence. Finland's 1994 decision to buy 64 F-18 Hornet fighter planes from the United States signalled the abandonment of the country's policy of balanced arms purchases from Communist countries and Western countries.

In 1994, Finland joined NATO's Partnership for Peace; the country is also an observer in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. Finland became a full member of the EU in January 1995, at the same time acquiring observer status in the EU's defence arm, the Western European Union.

Generally, Finland has abided by the principle of neutrality and has good relations with nearly all countries, as evidenced by the freedom of travel that a Finnish passport gives.

Diplomatic relations list

Diplomatic relations of Finland

Finland has established diplomatic relations with all United Nations member states, plus the Holy See and Kosovo.[7]

#	Country	Date[7]
1	Sweden	10 January 1918
1	Denmark	10 January 1918
3	Norway	6 April 1918–10 June 1940 October 1945
4	Argentina	11 May 1918[8]
5	Japan	24 May 1918–22 September 1944 8 March 1957
6	Austria	19 July 1918–12 March 1938 29 March 1949
6	Bulgaria	19 July 1918–20 September 1944 4 June 1948
8	Netherlands	14 August 1918
9	Spain	16 August 1918
10	Greece	1 March 1919
11	Poland	8 March 1919[9]–24 June 1941 October 1945
12	France	1919–24 June 1940 October 1945
13	Britain	28 March 1919–1 August 1941 15 September 1945
14	United States	30 May 1919–30 June 1944 18 August 1945
15	Belgium	9 July 1919
16	Italy	6 September 1919
17	Portugal	10 January 1920
18	Romania	28 June 1920–20 September 1944 14 October 1949
19	Russia	31 December 1920–29 November 1939 31 December 1940–29 November 1941 6 August 1945
20	Luxembourg	24 October 1921
21	Hungary	12 April 1922–20 September 1944 3 October 1947
22	Turkey	9 December 1924[10]
23	Switzerland	29 January 1926
24	Serbia	1928[11]
25	Brazil	8 April 1929
26	Afghanistan	15 December 1930 11 May 1956
27	Iran	1931[12]
28	Chile	20 February 1931
29	Uruguay	21 March 1935
30	Mexico	2 October 1936
31	Holy See	31 July 1942[13]
32	Egypt	15 February 1947
33	Iceland	15 August 1947
34	Canada	21 November 1947
35	South Africa	15 May 1949
36	Australia	31 May 1949
37	India	10 September 1949
38	New Zealand	22 July 1950
39	China	28 October 1950
40	Israel	14 November 1950
41	Pakistan	12 January 1951
42	Syria	22 May 1953
43	Colombia	26 March 1954
44	Venezuela	31 March 1954
45	Myanmar	21 June 1954
46	Thailand	21 June 1954
47	Indonesia	6 September 1954
48	Sri Lanka	24 September 1954
49	Philippines	14 July 1955
50	Lebanon	21 June 1956
51	Albania	8 June 1956
52	Cuba	23 January 1959
53	Iraq	15 May 1959
54	Ethiopia	17 July 1959
54	Morocco	17 July 1959
54	Tunisia	17 July 1959
57	Jordan	28 November 1959
58	Cameroon	15 January 1960
59	Chad	12 August 1960
60	Mali	7 October 1960
61	Sudan	27 January 1961
62	Guinea	19 July 1961
63	Cyprus	2 September 1961
64	Ireland	2 November 1961
65	Algeria	18 January 1963
66	Nigeria	18 January 1963
67	Peru	29 March 1963
68	Mongolia	8 July 1963
69	Bolivia	21 September 1963
70	Paraguay	20 November 1963
70	Ivory Coast	18 June 1964
72	Malawi	13 July 1964
73	Ecuador	5 February 1965
74	Kenya	14 June 1965
74	Tanzania	14 June 1965
74	Uganda	14 June 1965
77	Libya	28 September 1965
78	Costa Rica	23 August 1966
79	Haiti	29 September 1966
80	Republic of the Congo	22 March 1967
81	El Salvador	14 April 1967
82	Guatemala	18 August 1967
83	Zambia	8 March 1968
84	Senegal	31 January 1969
85	Kuwait	21 February 1969
85	Malta	21 February 1969
87	Saudi Arabia	6 June 1969
88	Cambodia	20 January 1970 9 August 1976
89	Liberia	24 March 1970
90	Democratic Republic of the Congo	3 April 1970
91	Central Africa	22 May 1970
92	Somalia	12 March 1971
93	Trinidad and Tobago	17 December 1971
94	Bangladesh	5 May 1972
95	Malaysia	17 November 1972
96	Germany	7 January 1973
97	Vietnam	25 January 1973
98	Singapore	7 February 1973
99	Oman	1 April 1973
100	North Korea	1 June 1973
101	South Korea	24 August 1973
102	Mauritius	31 October 1973
103	Qatar	1 April 1974
104	Guinea-Bissau	9 August 1974
105	Nepal	21 September 1974
106	Bahrain	20 December 1974
107	Laos	1 January 1975
107	Panama	1 January 1975
109	United Arab Emirates	21 February 1975
110	Mozambique	18 July 1975
111	Niger	28 November 1975
112	Nicaragua	22 December 1975
113	Honduras	30 January 1976
114	Angola	18 September 1976
115	Madagascar	1 June 1977
116	Papua New Guinea	31 September 1977
117	Barbados	1 December 1977
117	Fiji	1 December 1977
117	Ghana	1 December 1977
117	Jamaica	1 December 1977
121	Comoros	19 December 1977
122	Botswana	1 July 1978
123	Lesotho	1 February 1979
123	Mauritania	1 March 1979
125	São Tomé and Príncipe	1 March 1979
126	Guyana	2 April 1979
127	Yemen	1 June 1979
128	Kiribati	24 August 1979
129	Burundi	1 January 1980
130	Burkina Faso	15 February 1980
131	Grenada	1 June 1980
132	Vanuatu	31 July 1980
133	Zimbabwe	1 August 1980
134	Rwanda	1 June 1983
135	Cape Verde	22 July 1983
136	Dominican Republic	2 January 1984
137	Maldives	10 August 1984
138	Bhutan	1 May 1986
139	Seychelles	1 April 1987
140	Gabon	20 May 1988
141	Gambia	1 September 1988
142	Brunei	11 November 1988
143	Benin	22 December 1988
144	Namibia	21 March 1990
145	Eswatini	20 September 1990
146	Estonia	7 June 1920–June 1940 29 August 1991
146	Latvia	16 January 1921–June 1940 29 August 1991
146	Lithuania	14 October 1921–June 1940 29 August 1991
149	Slovenia	17 February 1992
150	Croatia	19 February 1992
151	Belarus	26 February 1992
151	Moldova	26 February 1992
151	Tajikistan	26 February 1992
151	Ukraine	26 February 1992
151	Uzbekistan	26 February 1992
156	Kyrgyzstan	23 March 1992
157	Azerbaijan	24 March 1992
158	Armenia	25 March 1992
159	Kazakhstan	13 May 1992
160	Turkmenistan	11 June 1992
161	Liechtenstein	26 June 1992
162	Georgia	8 July 1992
163	Czechia	1 January 1993
163	Slovakia	1 January 1993
165	Eritrea	28 May 1993
166	Tonga	1 December 1993
167	North Macedonia	17 December 1993
168	Marshall Islands	26 December 1993
169	Bosnia and Herzegovina	29 December 1994
170	Andorra	17 July 1995
170	San Marino	17 July 1995
172	Belize	19 June 1997
173	Solomon Islands	16 July 1999
174	Samoa	11 August 1999
175	East Timor	20 June 2002
176	Suriname	28 June 2005
177	Bahamas	2 December 2005
178	Montenegro	12 June 2006
179	Djibouti	14 March 2007
180	Monaco	29 March 2007
181	Equatorial Guinea	30 April 2008
182	Sierra Leone	17 June 2008
183	Antigua and Barbuda	26 September 2008
184	Kosovo	3 February 2009
185	Tuvalu	6 March 2009
186	Nauru	24 March 2009
187	Palau	5 May 2009
188	Dominica	19 August 2009
189	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	11 September 2009
190	Saint Kitts and Nevis	22 September 2009
190	Saint Lucia	22 September 2009
192	Micronesia	4 May 2010
193	Togo	12 May 2010
194	South Sudan	29 June 2012[14]

Africa

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Algeria	18 January 1963	Algeria is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Algiers.
Angola	18 September 1976	Angola is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland is represented in Angola through its embassy in Maputo, Mozambique. Finland also has an honorary consulate in Luanda.
Botswana	1 July 1978	Botswana is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland is represented in Botswana through its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Finland has an honorary consulate in Gaborone.
Burkina Faso	1 July 1978	Burkina Faso is represented in Finland through its embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Burundi	1 January 1980	Burundi is represented in Finland through its embassy in Oslo, Norway. Finland is represented in Burundi through its embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Comoros		Comoros is represented in Finland by its embassy in Paris, France.[15]
Djibouti	14 March 2007	Finland is represented in Djibouti through its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.[16] Djibouti is represented in Finland through its embassy in Moscow, Russia.[17]
Egypt	15 February 1947	Finland recognised Egypt on February 15, 1947. Egypt has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Cairo.
Ethiopia	July 17, 1959	See Ethiopia–Finland relations Ethiopia is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia is one of Finland's long-term development partners and in the water and education sectors.[18] On April 29, 2009, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development announced that the Finnish government had made a grant of 11.4 million euros to enable the Benishangul-Gumuz Region to upgrade its capacity to plan and manage its rural water supply and sanitation program to achieve universal access for all Ethiopians.[19] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Ethiopia
Kenya	14 June 1965	Finland recognised Kenya on December 13, 1963. Kenya is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Nairobi and an honorary consulate in Mombasa. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Kenya
Morocco	17 July 1959	Finland recognised Morocco's independence on June 8, 1956. Finland has an embassy in Rabat, an honorary consulate general in Casablanca, and other honorary consulates in Agadir, Kenitra, Marrakech, Safi, and Tangiers.[20] Morocco has an embassy in Helsinki. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Morocco
Mozambique	18 July 1975	Finland recognised Mozambique on July 4, 1975. Mozambique is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Maputo. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Mozambique
Namibia	21 March 1990	See Finland–Namibia relations Finland recognised Namibia on March 21, 1990. Both countries established diplomatic relations on the same day. Namibia is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Windhoek and an honorary consulate in Walvis Bay.
South Africa	15 May 1949	See Finland – South Africa relations A South African legation was established in 1967 and relations were then upgraded to ambassadorial level in March 1991.[21] Finland has an embassy in Pretoria, a general consulate in Johannesburg, and a consulate in Cape Town. South Africa has an embassy in Helsinki.[21] During World War II South Africa declared war on Finland.[22] Finland was a strong supporter of the dismantling of Apartheid in South Africa.[22][23][24] South African exports to Finland include fresh and dried fruits, wine, pulp, paper, iron, steel, and coal. South Africa imports telecommunication equipment, paper, board products, and machinery from Finland.[21] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with South Africa South African Department of Foreign Affairs: relations with Finland
Tanzania	14 June 1965	Finland recognised Tanganyika on December 9, 1961. Tanzania is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Dar es Salaam. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Tanzania
Tunisia	17 July 1959	Finland recognised Tunisia's independence on June 8, 1956. Since 1994 Finland has an embassy in Tunis. Previously Finland was represented in Tunisia through its embassies in Algiers, Algeria, and Rome, Italy.[25] Tunisia has an embassy in Helsinki. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Tunisia
Zambia	8 March 1968	Finland recognised Zambia on October 29, 1964. Zambia is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Lusaka. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Zambia

Americas

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Antigua and Barbuda	26 September 2008	Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Antigua and Barbuda.
Argentina	11 May 1918	See Argentina–Finland relations Argentina has an embassy in Helsinki.[26] Finland has an embassy in Buenos Aires and five honorary consulates (in Córdoba, Mendoza, Oberá, Rosario, and Ushuaia).[27] Argentine Ministry of Foreign Relations: list of bilateral treaties with Finland (in Spanish only) Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Argentina
Bahamas	2 December 2005	Finland's embassy in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada attends to consular matters relating to The Bahamas. Finland also has an honorary consulate in Nassau.
Barbados	1 December 1977	Barbados is represented in Finland by their embassy in Brussels, Belgium. Finland has an honorary consulate general in Christ Church.
Belize	19 June 1997	Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Belize. Finland also has an honorary consulate in Belize City.
Bolivia	21 September 1963	Bolivia is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.
Brazil	1929	See Brazil–Finland relations Brazil has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Brasília.
Canada	21 November 1947	See Canada–Finland relations Canada has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Ottawa.
Chile	17 June 1919	See Chile–Finland relations Chile recognised Finland's independence on June 17, 1919. Diplomatic relations between them were established in 1931 and have been continuously maintained, despite pressures at times to discontinue them.[28] The two countries maintain resident ambassadors in both capitals.[28] Chile has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Santiago.
Colombia	26 May 1954	Colombia has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Bogotá. The relations between Colombia and Finland are harmonious as both countries share a similar ideology based on democracy, human rights and a lasting peace. It's because of this that Colombia has decided to open an embassy in Helsinki. Colombia also defines Finland as a key player on Colombia's accession into the OECD and the ratification of the Colombia-European Union Trade Agreement.[29]
Costa Rica	23 August 1966	Costa Rica is represent in Finland by their embassy in Oslo, Norway. Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Costa Rica. Finland also has an honorary consulate general and honorary vice-consulate in San José.
Cuba	23 January 1959	Cuba has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Cuba. Finland also has an honorary consulate general in Havana.
Dominica	18 August 2009	Finland has an honorary consulate in Roseau.
Dominican Republic	2 January 1984	The Dominican Republic is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an honorary consulate general in Santo Domingo.
Ecuador	5 February 1965	Ecuador is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland's embassy in Lima, Peru attends to consular matters relating to Ecuador. Finland has an honorary consulate in Guayaquil and Quito.
El Salvador	14 April 1967	El Salvador is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to El Salvador. Finland has an honorary consulate and an honorary vice-consulate in San Salvador.
Grenada	1 June 1980	Grenada is represented in Finland by their embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an honorary consulate in St. George's.
Guatemala	18 August 1967	Guatemala is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium. Finland has an honorary consulate in Guatemala City.
Guyana	2 April 1979	Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 2, 1979.[30] Guyana is represented in Finland by their embassy in Brussels, Belgium. Finland also has an honorary consulate general in Georgetown.
Haiti	29 September 1966	Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Haiti. Finland has an honorary consulate general in Port-au-Prince.
Honduras	30 January 1976	Honduras is represented in Finland by their embassy in Brussels, Belgium. Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Honduras. Finland has an honorary consulate general in Tegucigalpa and an honorary consulate in San Pedro Sula.
Jamaica	1 December 1977	Jamaica is represented in Finland by their embassy in London, United Kingdom. Finland has an honorary consulate general in Kingston.
Mexico	2 October 1936	See Finland–Mexico relations Mexico recognized the independence of Finland in July 1920. Finland has an embassy in Mexico City.[31] Mexico has an embassy in Helsinki.[32] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Relations with Mexico
Nicaragua	22 December 1975	See Finland–Nicaragua relations Finland is accredited to Nicaragua from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.[33] Nicaragua has an embassy in Helsinki.[34]
Panama	1 December 1975	Panama is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Panama. Finland has an honorary consulate general in Panama City.
Paraguay	20 November 1963	Paraguay is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland's embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina attends to consular matters relating to Paraguay. Finland has an honorary consulate in Asunción.
Peru	29 March 1963	Peru has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Lima.
Saint Kitts and Nevis	22 September 2009	Finland has an honorary consulate in Basseterre.
Saint Lucia	22 September 2009	Finland has an honorary consulate in Castries.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	30 January 1976	Finland is represented in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines through a roving ambassador.[35] Finland has an honorary consulate in Kingstown.[36] Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is represented in Finland through it embassy in London.[37]
Suriname	28 June 2005	Finland's embassy in Brasília, Brazil attends to consular matters relating to Suriname. Finland has an honorary consulate in Paramaribo.
Trinidad and Tobago	17 December 1971	Trinidad and Tobago is accredited to Finland from its embassy in London, United Kingdom. Finland has an honorary consulate general in Barataria.
United States	30 May 1919[38]	See Finland–United States relations Relations between the United States and Finland are warm. Some 200,000 US citizens visit Finland annually, and about 3,000 US citizens are resident there. The US has an educational exchange program in Finland that is comparatively large for a Western European country of Finland's size. It is financed in part from a trust fund established in 1976 from Finland's final repayment of a US loan made in the aftermath of World War I. Finland is bordered on the east by Russia and, as one of the former Soviet Union's neighbours, has been of particular interest and importance to the US both during the Cold War and in its aftermath. Before the USSR dissolved in 1991, longstanding US policy was to support Finnish neutrality while maintaining and reinforcing Finland's historic, cultural, and economic ties with the West. The US has welcomed Finland's increased participation since 1991 in Western economic and political structures. Economic and trade relations between Finland and the United States are active and were bolstered by the F-18 purchase. US-Finland trade totals almost $5 billion annually. The US receives about 7% of Finland's exports – mainly wood pulp and paper, ships, machinery, electronics and instruments and refined petroleum products[39] – and provides about 7% of its imports – principally computers, semiconductors, aircraft, and machinery. Finland has an embassy in Washington, D.C. and consulates-general in Los Angeles and New York City. United States has an embassy in Helsinki.
Uruguay	21 March 1935	See Finland–Uruguay relations Finland's embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina accredited to Uruguay and maintains an honorary consulate in Montevideo. Uruguay has an embassy in Helsinki.
Venezuela	31 March 1954	Finland is accredited to Venezuela from its embassy in Bogotá, Colombia. Venezuela is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Oslo, Norway.

Asia

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Afghanistan	11 May 1956	Afghanistan recognised the independence of Finland on July 17, 1928. Afghanistan is accredited to Finland through its embassy in Oslo, Norway.[40] Finland opened a liaison office in Kabul in 2002. It converted into an embassy on January 1, 2006.[41] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Afghanistan
Armenia	25 March 1992	See Armenia–Finland relations Finland recognised Armenia on December 30, 1991. Armenia is represented in Finland by a non-resident ambassador (based in Yerevan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Finland is represented in Armenia by a non-resident ambassador (based in Helsinki at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and an honorary consulate in Yerevan. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Armenia
Azerbaijan	24 March 1992	See Azerbaijan–Finland relations Finland recognised Azerbaijan on March 24, 1992. Azerbaijan is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm (Sweden) and an honorary consulate in Helsinki. Finland is represented in Azerbaijan by a non-resident ambassador (based in Helsinki at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and an honorary consulate in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
China	October 28, 1950[42]	See China–Finland relations The two international trade organisations are the Finland-China Trade Association and the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). One of the fastest growing areas of trade between the two countries is in environmental protection. and information technology. Nokia is the largest Finnish investor in China. China has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Georgia	8 July 1992	See Finland–Georgia relations Finland recognised Georgia on March 27, 1992. Finland is represented in Georgia by a non-resident ambassador (based in Helsinki at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and an honorary consulate in Tbilisi. Georgia is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm (Sweden) and an honorary consulate in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. On April 22, 2009, the Georgian Foreign Minister visited Finland.[43] Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Georgia Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Finland
India	10 September 1949	See Finland–India relations Finland has an embassy in New Delhi and three honorary consulates in Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai. India has an embassy in Helsinki.[44] Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with India
Indonesia	6 September 1954	Finland recognised the independence of Indonesia on February 10, 1950. Finland has an embassy in Jakarta and honorary consulates in Denpasar and Medan.[45] Indonesia has an embassy in Helsinki.[46] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Indonesia
Iran		See Finland–Iran relations Finland has an embassy in Tehran.[47] Iran has an embassy in Helsinki.[48]
Iraq	15 May 1959	Finland recognised Iraq on May 15, 1959. Finland has an embassy in Baghdad. Iraq has an embassy in Helsinki.
Israel	14 November 1950	See Finland–Israel relations Finland recognised Israel on March 18, 1949. Finland has an embassy in Tel Aviv.[49] Israel has an embassy in Helsinki.[50] Both countries are full members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Along with the rest of the European Union, Finland has not recognized the State of Palestine. See also History of the Jews in Finland Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Israel
Japan	6 September 1919	Japan recognised Finland on May 23, 1919. Finland has an embassy in Tokyo and honorary consulate general in Osaka and other honorary consulates in Kitakyushu, Nagano, Nagoya, and Sapporo. Japan has an embassy in Helsinki. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Japan Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Finland
Kazakhstan	13 May 1992[51]	See Finland–Kazakhstan relations Finland recognized Kazakhstan upon its independence from the Soviet Union. Finland has an embassy in Nur-Sultan. Kazakhstan has an embassy in Helsinki.
Malaysia	17 November 1972[52]	See Finland–Malaysia relations Finland has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.[53] Malaysia has an embassy in Helsinki.[54]
Nepal	30 August 1955	Finland recognised Nepal on December 14, 1955. Finland has an embassy in Kathmandu. Nepal is represented in Finland through its embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Nepal
North Korea	1 June 1973[55]	See Finland–North Korea relations Finland recognized the People's Democratic Republic of Korea on April 13, 1973.[56] Finland condemns North Korean nuclear tests and fully agrees with EU foreign policy statements on this matter.[56] International trade has been irregular and sporadic, and it is controlled by UN and EU sanctions.[57] Finland has contributed to humanitarian assistance to North Korea through the Red Cross and the World Food Programme.[57] Neither Finland nor North Korea currently have resident ambassadors. North Korea is represented by the North Korean embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.[57] Finland is represented by the Finnish embassy in Seoul, South Korea.[58]
Pakistan	January 12, 1951	See Finland–Pakistan relations Finland is accredited to Pakistan from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs based in Helsinki. Pakistan is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
Saudi Arabia	23 September 1969	Finland has an embassy in Riyadh and an honorary consulate general in Jeddah.[59] Saudi Arabia will open an embassy in Helsinki.[60] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Saudi Arabia
South Korea	24 August 1973	The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Finland and the South Korea began on 1973-08-24. Finland recognised South Korea on April 13, 1973. Finland has an embassy in Seoul.[61] South Korea has an embassy in Helsinki.[62]
Syria	22 May 1953	Finland has an embassy in Damascus and two honorary consulates general in Aleppo and Latakia. Syria is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.[63] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Syria
Thailand	21 June 1954	Thailand, previously known as Siam, recognised Finland's independence on October 9, 1919.[64] Siam was the second non-European state after the United States and the first Asian state to recognise Finland's independence. Finland has an embassy in Bangkok, its honorary consulate general in Phuket and its honorary consulate in Chiang Mai.[65] Thailand has an embassy in Helsinki.[66] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Thailand
Turkey	20 May 1920	See Finland–Turkey relations Turkey recognised the independence of Finland on February 21, 1918. Finland has an embassy in Ankara and an honorary consulate general in Istanbul and other honorary consulates in Belek, Bodrum and Izmir.[67] Turkey has an embassy in Helsinki.[68] See also Turks in Finland Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs: political, economic and commercial relations with Finland Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Turkey
Vietnam	5 January 1973	Finland recognised Vietnam on December 28, 1972. Finland has an embassy in Hanoi and an honorary consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam has an embassy in Helsinki. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland about Vietnam

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Austria	29 March 1949	See Austria–Finland relations Austria has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Vienna. Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Belgium	9 July 1919	Belgium has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Brussels. Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Bulgaria	5 August 1918	In 1963, the diplomatic representations of the two countries were upgraded to the level of embassy. Bulgaria has an embassy in Helsinki and an honorary consulate in Kemi.[69] Finland has an embassy in Sofia and an honorary consulate in Varna.[70] Both countries are full members of the European Union. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Bulgaria
Croatia	19 February 1992	See Croatia–Finland relations Croatia has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Zagreb. Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Cyprus	2 September 1961	See Cyprus–Finland relations Finland recognised Cyprus on August 16, 1960. Cyprus has an embassy in Helsinki and an honorary consulate in Vantaa.[71] Finland has an embassy in Nicosia.[72] Both countries are full members of the European Union. Cypriot Foreign Affairs: List of bilateral treaties with Finland
Czech Republic	1 January 1993	Czech Republic has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Prague. Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Denmark	18 February 1918	Main article: Denmark–Finland relations Denmark has an embassy in Helsinki. Finland has an embassy in Copenhagen. Denmark officially recognized Finland's independence in 1918. Both countries are full members of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Passport Union, with no border controls or limitations on travel and residence. On cases concerning an individual, authorities must arrange translations between Finnish and Danish, if necessary. Both countries are members of the European Union, Council of the Baltic Sea States. Denmark and Finland share a long history, where Danish Vikings settled in Finland and made crusades. Both countries were also part of the Kalmar Union.[73] Denmark was the first country along with Sweden to recognize Finland's Independence. There are 3,000 Finns living in Denmark, and 1,235 Danes living in Finland. During Winter War, over 1,000 Danish volunteers came to help Finland.[74] During the Winter war and the Continuation war, Denmark took 4,200 Finnish war children.[75] Exports to Denmark value at 1.380 billion euros, and imports from Denmark value at 1.453 billion, making Denmark Finland's 10th largest import-trading partner. The Nordic Culture Fund and the Finnish-Danish Cultural Fund support projects of artists in both countries. Many tourists from Finland visit Denmark, 206,000 in 2017, and vice versa: 113,000 Danish tourists visited Finland in 2017. In 1918 Mannerheim visited Copenhagen, asking if Prince Aage would have wanted to become the King of Finland. Bilateral relations between Denmark and Finland (in Finnish)
Estonia	29 August 1991	Main article: Estonia–Finland relations Finland's main language, Finnish, is related to Estonian, and there is and has been a certain feeling of kinship. 76% of Finns have visited Estonia and in 2004, 1.8 million Finns reported visiting Estonia. Finnish and Swedish investors are the largest foreign investors in Estonia.[76] Finland and Estonia are members of the European Union and the Schengen agreement, freeing international travel and trade between the countries. Finland's government recognised Estonia's independence in 1920. In response to the Soviet invasion, diplomatic missions were de facto removed. However, when Estonia declared independence, this "temporary obstruction" was resolved. Both countries restored diplomatic relations on August 29, 1991. Estonia has an embassy in Helsinki and five honorary consulates in Oulu, Turku, Raseborg, Tampere and Kotka. Finland has an embassy in Tallinn and an honorary consulate in Tartu. Finland contributed and continues to contribute military aid to Estonia, e.g., training of officers, provision of equipment. Both countries are full members of the European Union.
France	24 January 1918	See Finland–France relations France was one of the first countries which recognised Finland's independence on January 4, 1918. Finland has an embassy in Paris and 18 honorary consulates (in Ajaccio, Bordeaux, Brest, Caen, Cherbourg, Dijon, Lille, Lyons, Marseille, Monaco, Nancy, Nice, Reims, Rouen, Sète, Strasbourg, Toulouse and Papeete in Tahiti).[77] France has an embassy in Helsinki and its honorary consulates in Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu, Pori, Rovaniemi, Tampere and Turku.[78] There are an estimated 6,000 Finns living in France. French Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Finland Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with France History of the relations of Finland and France on Finnish Embassy in Paris websites Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Germany	4 January 1918	See Finland–Germany relations Germany recognised Finland's independence on January 4, 1918. Germany gave direct military support to Finnish independence by training Finnish Jägers and successfully intervened in Finnish Civil War in favor of the nationalist Whites. During World War II, the secret protocol in Molotov-Ribbentrop pact enabled Winter War (1939–40), a Soviet attack on Finland. Finland and Nazi Germany were "co-belligerents" against Soviet Union during Continuation War (1941–44), but a separate peace with Soviet Union led to the Finnish-German Lapland War (1944–45). The Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic (West and East Germany) were both recognised on January 7, 1972 by Finland. Diplomatic relations between Finland and West Germany were established on January 7, 1973. Finland has an embassy in Berlin, and consulate general in Hamburg, two honorary consulates general in Düsseldorf and Munich and other honorary consulates in Bremen, Dresden, Frankfurt am Main, Hanover, Kiel, Lübeck, Rostock, Stuttgart, and Wilhelmshaven. Germany has an embassy in Helsinki.[79] German Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Germany: relations with Finland Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Germany Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Greece	5 January 1918	See Finland–Greece relations Greece recognised Finland's independence on January 5, 1918. Finland has an embassy in Athens. Greece has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Hungary	20 May 1947	Hungary recognised Finland on August 23, 1920. Finland recognised Hungary on September 10, 1920. Finland broke off diplomatic relations on September 20, 1944. Diplomatic relations were re-established on May 20, 1947. Both national languages, Finnish and Hungarian, are Uralic languages, which has led to cultural exchange albeit at a much smaller scale compared to the third major Uralic-speaking country, Estonia. Finland has an embassy in Budapest and an honorary consulate in Pécs. Hungary has an embassy in Helsinki and four honorary consulates (in Turku, Mariehamn, Tampere and Joensuu).[80] Both countries are full members of the European Union. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Hungary
Iceland	15 August 1947	See Finland–Iceland relations Finland has an embassy in Reykjavík.[81] Iceland has an embassy in Helsinki.[82] Both countries are full members of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Passport Union, with no border controls or limitations on travel and residence. On cases concerning an individual, authorities must arrange translations between Finnish and Icelandic, if necessary.
Ireland	2 November 1961	Finland has an embassy in Dublin and three honorary consulates (in Cork, Dublin and Limerick).[83] Ireland has an embassy in Helsinki.[84] Both countries are full members of Council of Europe and of the European Union. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Ireland
Italy	6 September 1919	See Finland–Italy relations Italy recognised Finland's independence on June 27, 1919. Finland has an embassy in Rome and two honorary consulate generals in Milan and Venice and other honorary consulates in Genoa, Bari, Cagliari, Catania, Florence, Livorno, Messina, Naples, Palermo, Rimini, Trieste and Turin.[85] Italy has an embassy in Helsinki and its honorary consulates in Hanko, Jyväskylä, Kotka, Kuopio, Oulu, Pori, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa.[86] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Italy Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Kosovo	3 February 2009	Main article: Finland–Kosovo relations Finland recognised Kosovo March 7, 2008.[87][88] Finland maintains an embassy in Pristina.[89]
Latvia	24 September 1919	Main article: Finland–Latvia relations Finland recognised Latvia's independence de facto on September 24, 1919, and de jure on January 21, 1921. Finland has an embassy in Riga. Latvia has an embassy in Helsinki and four honorary consulates (in Åland, Satakunta, Kymenlaakso and Oulu). Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and of the European Union. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Latvia Latvian Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Finland
Lithuania	4 November 1919	Finland recognised Lithuania's independence de facto on November 14, 1919, and de jure on October 14, 1921. Finland has an embassy in Vilnius and an honorary consulate in Klaipėda. Lithuania has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and of the European Union. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Lithuania
Luxembourg	25 October 1921	Luxembourg recognised Finland's independence on October 25, 1921. Finland has an embassy in Luxembourg City.[90] Luxembourg is accredited to Finland through its embassy in Copenhagen.[91] Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Luxembourg Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Netherlands	18 August 1918	See Finland–Netherlands relations The Netherlands recognised Finland's independence on January 28, 1918. Finland has an embassy in The Hague and honorary consulate general in Amsterdam and other honorary consulates in Rotterdam and Terneuzen.[92] The Netherlands has an embassy in Helsinki and consulates (in Kuopio, Mariehamn, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa).[93] Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Finland Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with the Netherlands Both countries are full members of the European Union.
Norway	6 April 1918	See Finland–Norway relations Norway recognised Finland's independence on January 10, 1918. Finland has an embassy in Oslo and other honorary consulates in Bergen, Bodø, Drammen, Farsund, Grimstad, Halden, Hamar, Hammerfest, Haugesund, Horten, Kirkenes, Kristiansand, Kristiansund, Larvik, Moss, Narvik, Sarpsborg, Stavanger, Tromsø, Trondheim, Vadsø, and Ålesund. Norway has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the Nordic Council and the Nordic Passport Union, with no border controls or limitations on travel and residence. On cases concerning an individual, authorities must arrange translations between Finnish and Norwegian, if necessary. Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and Council of Europe. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Norway
Poland	8 March 1919	See Finland–Poland relations Finland has an embassy in Warsaw and an honorary consulate in Gdynia. Poland has an embassy in Helsinki.[94] Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and of the European Union. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Poland
Portugal	10 January 1920	Portugal recognised Finland's independence on December 19, 1919. Finland has an embassy in Lisbon and honorary consulates in Faro, Lisbon, Porto, Vila Real de Santo António, Ponta Delgada in the Azores and Funchal in Madeira.[95] Portugal has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the European Union. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Portugal
Romania	14 October 1949	Romania recognised Finland on April 8, 1920. Finland has an embassy in Bucharest and two honorary consulates (in Bucharest and Constanţa).[96] Romania has an embassy in Helsinki.[97] Both countries are full members of the European Union and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Romania Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Finland
Russia	30 December 1991	Main article: Finland–Russia relations Relations with Russia are peaceful and friendly. Finland imports a lot of goods and basic necessities, such as fuel, and the two nations are agreeing on issues more than disagreeing on them. Finland was a part of the Russian Empire for 108 years, after being annexed from the Swedish empire. Discontent with Russian rule, Finnish national identity, and World War I eventually caused Finland to break away from Russia, taking advantage of the fact that Russia was withdrawing from World War I and a revolution was starting in earnest. Following the Finnish Civil War and October revolution, Russians were virtually equated with Communists and due to official hostility to Communism, Finno-Soviet relations in the period between the world wars remained tense. Voluntary activists arranged expeditions to Karelia (heimosodat), which ended when Finland and the Soviet Union signed the Treaty of Tartu in 1920. However, the Soviet Union did not abide by the treaty when they blockaded Finnish naval ships. Finland was attacked by the USSR in 1939. Finland fought the Winter War and the Continuation War against the Soviet Union in World War II. During these wars the Finns suffered 90,000 casualties and inflicted severe casualties on the Russians (120,000 dead in the Winter War and 200,000 in the Continuation War). Contemporary issues include problems with border controls causing persistent truck queues at the border, airspace violations, pollution of the Baltic Sea, and Russian duties on exported wood to Finland's pulp and paper industry. Russia also considered large swathes of land near the Finnish border as special security area where foreign land ownership is forbidden. A similarly extensive restriction does not apply to Russian citizens. The Finnish Defence Forces and Finnish Security Intelligence Service have suspected that Russians have made targeted land purchases near military and other sensitive installations for intelligence or special operations purposes.[98][99] Right-wing commentators accuse the government of continuing the policy of Finlandisation. Recently, Finland-Russia relations have been under pressure with annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, which Finland considers illegal. Together with the rest of the European Union, Finland enforces sanctions against Russia that followed. Still, economic relations have not entirely deteriorated: 11.2% of imports to Finland are from Russia, and 5.7% of exports from Finland are to Russia, and cooperation between Finnish and Russian authorities continues.[100] Finland has an embassy in Moscow, a consulate-general in Saint Petersburg and two branches of the consulate (in Murmansk and Petrozavodsk). Russia has an embassy in Helsinki, a consulate-general in Turku and consulates in Lappeenranta and Mariehamn.
Serbia	1929	Finland has an embassy in Belgrade.[101] Serbia has an embassy in Helsinki.[102] Finland is an EU member and Serbia is an candidate. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Serbia Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Finland
Slovakia	1 January 1993	Finland recognised the independence of Slovakia on January 1, 1993. Finland has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Bratislava.[103] Slovakia has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the European Union. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Slovakia
Slovenia	17 February 1992	Finland recognised Slovenia on January 17, 1992. Finland has an embassy in Ljubljana. Slovenia has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the European Union. Tensions between the countries rose in late 2008 when a news program on Finland's national broadcasting company station YLE accused Finnish weapons manufacturer Patria of bribing Slovenian officials to secure an arms deal. Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa formally complained to the Finnish ambassador in Ljubljana.[104] This controversy became known as the Patria case. Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Slovenia
Spain	16 August 1918	See Finland–Spain relations Spain recognised Finland's independence on February 21, 1918. Finland has an embassy in Madrid and two honorary consulates general in Barcelona and Sevilla and other honorary consulates in A Coruña, Benidorm, Bilbao, Gijón, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Pilar de la Horadada, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santander, Valencia and Vigo.[105] Spain has an embassy in Helsinki.[106] Both countries are full members of the European Union. Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs: relations with Spain
Sweden	10 January 1918	Main article: Finland–Sweden relations Finland and Sweden have always had very close relations, resulting from shared history, numerous commonalities in society and politics, and close trade relations. A newly appointed Foreign Minister makes his or her first state visit to Sweden. Finnish politicians often consider Sweden's reaction to international affairs first as a base for further actions, and thus finally both countries often agree on such issues. If there has ever been any dissonance between the two countries those were the Åland question in the early 1920s and the Swedish declaration of non-belligerent status during the Winter War. Finland and Sweden are members of the European Union and the Schengen agreement, freeing international travel and trade between the countries. Furthermore, both participate in the Nordic Council, which grants Swedish nationals slightly more extensive rights than the EU/Schengen treaties alone. Finland has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Helsinki.
Switzerland	29 January 1926	Finland recognised Switzerland on January 29, 1926. Finland has an embassy in Bern. Switzerland has an embassy in Helsinki.
Turkey	20 May 1920	See Turkey in Asia Above See Finland–Turkey relations
Ukraine	26 February 1992	See Finland–Ukraine relations In 1918, Finland was one of the first countries which recognised Ukraine in 1918 and opened its diplomatic mission in Kiev. Finland recognised Ukraine on December 30, 1991. Finland has an embassy in Kiev.[107] Ukraine has an embassy in Helsinki.[108] Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: relations with Ukraine
United Kingdom	6 May 1919[38]	Finland has an embassy in London and honorary consulates in Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover, Dundee, Edinburgh, Gibraltar, Glasgow, Hamilton, Harwich, Hull, Immingham, Leeds, Lerwick, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Plymouth, Rochester, Sheffield, Southampton and St Helier.[109] The United Kingdom has an embassy in Helsinki and honorary consulates in Jyväskylä, Kotka, Kuopio, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa and the Åland Islands.[110] Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.

Oceania

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Australia	31 May 1949	Main article: Australia–Finland relations Diplomatic relations were established on May 31, 1949. Australia is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Canberra and a consulate in Sydney.
New Zealand	22 July 1950	Finland is accredited to New Zealand from its embassy in Canberra, Australia. New Zealand is accredited to Finland from its embassy in The Hague, Netherlands.

International organization participation

AfDB AsDB Australia Group BIS CBSS CCC CE CERN EAPC EBRD ECE EIB ESA  EU FAO G-9 IADB

IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICC ICRM IDA IEA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO ITUC Interpol  IOC

IOM ISO ITU MINURSO NAM (guest) NC NEA NIB NSG Organization of American States (observer) OECD OPCW OSCE PCA PFP  UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNHCR

UNIDO UNIKOM UNITAR UNMEE UNMIBH UNMIK UNMOGIP UNMOP UNOMIG UNTAET UNTSO UPU WEU (observer) WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTrO Zangger Committee

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Finland
• List of diplomatic missions of Finland
• Minister for Foreign Affairs (Finland)
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)
• Politics of Finland
• Pulp mill conflict between Argentina and Uruguay (for the ongoing conflict over the installation of a pulp mill by the Finnish company Botnia in Uruguay, across the Uruguay River)
• Visa requirements for Finnish citizens
• Arctic policy of Finland

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External links

• Finland in the CIA World Factbook
• A Eurosceptic big bang: Finland's EU policy in hindsight of the 2011 elections The Finnish Institute of International Affairs
• Finland in the United Nations: Consistent and Credible Constructivism The Finnish Institute of International Affairs
• From Cold War to Common Currency: A personal perspective on Finland and the EU The Finnish Institute of International Affairs