Yle News
December 19, 2022

Finland relaxing arms export rules to Turkey

Finland plans to loosen its restrictive policies on arms exports to Turkey, reports Finnish news agency STT on Sunday.

STT‘s report follows news that the defence ministry has given an “initial green light” to recent Turkish requests for arms exports.

“It’s possible that the government will deal with these applications before next spring’s elections,” said Riikka Pitkänen of the Defence Ministry.

Although Finland has no formal ban on arms exports to Turkey, Finland has since 2019 not issued any new export permits to Turkey following the country’s ground attacks against Syrian Kurds.

***

Earlier this week Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen (Cen) told Yle that Finland needs a mindset change in regard to relations with Turkey.

…The governing coalition has greenlit arms exports to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar….

***

Earlier this month Turkey said that Finland should end the arms embargo in order to secure Ankara’s support for Nato membership.