Finland's Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) asserted that a war was being waged in Ukraine for the future of all of Europe in his Christmas address to Finnish soldiers engaged in peacekeeping missions.
Häkkänen elaborated on the topic in his Christmas greeting to peacekeepers, which was published on the Ministry of Defense's website. According to the Defense Minister, there seems to be no swift end to the conflict in Ukraine.
"The power politics of Russia had created a sense of insecurity and uncertainty in Europe and, indirectly, across the world. We have painful evidence that a larger state might feel entitled to interfere in the choices of its smaller neighbour and be willing to use military force to advance its own objectives," Häkkänen said.
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The Defense Minister believed that the year 2023 would be remembered in various ways: as a year marked by war, but also for Finland's NATO membership and the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) made with the United States.
"With membership, our security was guaranteed by the world's strongest defense alliance. An alliance that adhered to the principle that an attack against one member was an attack against the entire alliance," Häkkänen noted.
In his speech, Häkkänen also highlighted the heated situation in the Middle East. He expressed gratitude to Finnish peacekeepers for their work and assured them that the home front was secure.
”During the Christmas season, when you are out there somewhere guarding the outskirts of an observation post, on foot patrol, training foreign soldiers to defend their country or performing vital support tasks, you don't have to worry about whether your homeland is secure" Häkkänen emphasised.
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