Finnish military strength questioned by Sweden: Is Helsinki prepared for invasion?
"Just how strong is the Finnish military?" questions the Swedish "Aftonbladet". The publication from Stockholm produced an article this Sunday discussing the current state of the Finnish military. The conclusion drawn from this write-up suggests that although Helsinki was prepared for a hybrid war with Russia or a surge of migrants from the eastern border, in case of an invasion, they would not be able to manage without Swedish assistance. This argument is backed by statements from two Finns: Ilmari Käihkö from the Swedish National Defense University and researcher Charlie Salonius-Pasternak.
8:52 AM EST, December 21, 2023
Käihkö points out that Finland's main weakness lies in their troop numbers. He opines that the Finnish military focuses heavily on training conscripts, but they would struggle to quickly form a reserve army in case of an emergency. The expert also highlights the short duration of basic military service, arguing that recruits might struggle to acquire sufficient battle skills and weapon management in just a few months.
Salonius-Pasternak echoes similar thoughts, suggesting that the Finnish military should increase their personnel to "amplify reservist training".
The Swedish newspaper's piece has stirred a reaction in Helsinki. Gen. Toveri, a Member of Parliament (MP) and the former head of Finnish military intelligence, in a conversation with the country's second-largest daily, "Ilta-Sanomat", outright rejects the Swedes' allegations. Quite agitated, he labels the article in the "Aftonbladet" as utterly ridiculous, unprofessional, and ignorant of the Finnish conscript training system.
"A rapid response force has been established in Finland, a portion of which stands ready for immediate combat. Even if they constituted only 10 percent of the reserve, that number still surpasses the entire Swedish army," Toveri teases with a hint of irony.
The Finnish general clarifies that while the minimum service period is under half a year, most conscripts remain for significantly longer training to learn special skills. "It's beneficial that we have military cooperation with Sweden, but there's no doubt that Finland maintains the best army and defensive capabilities in Northern Europe," he underscores.
