Finland

Finland, Israel quietly extend defense agreement for 10 years

The agreement was signed in 2024, during the height of the war in Gaza, and despite strong criticism from Finnish opposition

|ByANNA AHRONHEIM
Finland's flag
The UNRWA emblem is displayed on a building at the Kalandia Training Center in Qalandia refugee camp, West Bank, on August 25, 2026.

Finland discontinues €20 million UNRWA funding agreement

Finnish Foreign Trade Minister Ville Tavio previously suspended contributions to the agency in 2024 over allegations that UNRWA employees participated in Hamas’s October 7 massacre.

|ByGOLDIE KATZ
A member of the ground crew of the Swedish Air Force stands next to a JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft in Kallinge, Sweden, December 16, 2025.

Sweden to deploy fighter jets, warships to Finland amid fears of 'deteroriating security situation'

Sweden responded to a request from Finland to strengthen air defense over fears that the Russia-Ukraine war is spilling into NATO's northern borders with Russia.

|ByREUTERS
Israeli tourism group Aviation Links (Kishrey Teufa) and Greek real estate investment firm Palmo Group are cooperating on a €8.8 million vacation-apartment project on the waterfront in Loutraki, Greece.

Aviation Links, Palmo partner on €8.8m Greek vacation-apartment project

The Israeli companies plan to convert an existing hotel in the Greek resort town of Loutraki into 75 vacation apartments, with prices starting at €100,000.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Finland to discuss NATO ratification that may leave Sweden behind

Finland has been urged to move forward with NATO without confirmation of Sweden's involvement.

FEBRUARY 10, 2023ByREUTERS
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Finland's President Sauli Niinisto and Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson pose after signing a document during a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, June 28, 2022.

Finland, Sweden committed to joint NATO accession, prime ministers say

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said his country continued to abide by a trilateral agreement on NATO accession signed last year between Sweden, Finland and Turkey.

FEBRUARY 2, 2023ByREUTERS
THE FLAGS of Finland, NATO and Sweden are seen during a ceremony in Brussels earlier this week to mark the countries’ application for membership into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Erdogan says Turkey positive on Finland's NATO bid, not Sweden's

"Our position on Finland is positive, but it is not positive on Sweden," Erdogan said.

FEBRUARY 1, 2023ByREUTERS
THE FLAGS of Finland, NATO and Sweden are seen during a ceremony in Brussels earlier this week to mark the countries’ application for membership into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Turkey blocking Sweden from NATO continues to cause chaos

Sweden and Finland wanted to join NATO when Russia invaded Ukraine, but Turkey has been blocking the request.

JANUARY 31, 2023BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
FROM LEFT: Finland’s Ambassador to NATO Klaus Korhonen, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Sweden’s Ambassador to NATO Axel Wernhoff attend a ceremony to mark the applications for membership of Sweden and Finland, in Brussels, last month.

Regular visits to green spaces linked to lower use of certain prescriptions - study

Research in forest-rich Finland studied responses of 16,000 residents of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa

JANUARY 17, 2023ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
A paddler enjoys warm weather on the Kesanki Lake in Akaslompolo, Kolari, Lapland, Finland, July 7, 2021.

Sweden, Finland must send up to 130 'terrorists' to Turkey for NATO bid

Turkey is requesting Finland and Sweden send 130 Kurdish "terrorists" in exchange for permission to join NATO

JANUARY 16, 2023ByREUTERS
NATO and Russian flags are seen through broken glass this illustration taken April 13, 2022.

Sweden optimistic about NATO talks with Turkey

Sweden continues to negotiate over the application to join NATO, hoping Erdogan will lessen his demands after Turkey's election.

JANUARY 12, 2023ByKRISTINA JOVANOVSKI/THE MEDIA LINE
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist hold a news conference about the gas leak in the Baltic Sea from Nord Stream, in Stockholm, Sweden September 27, 2022.

Finland's ambassador to Israel talks diplomacy, Jews, NATO

It was my special pleasure to welcome the Finnish Ambassador to Israel, Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen, to talk with me about her country.

DECEMBER 30, 2022ByWALTER BINGHAM
Finland’s Ambassador Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen

Turkey’s authoritarianism increases targeting journalists, opposition - analysis

Amid the Ukraine war, Ankara has positioned itself as a friend to both sides, working with Russia on trade while also working with Ukraine.

DECEMBER 21, 2022BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a ceremony to mark an increase in capacity at a natural gas storage facility in Silivri near Istanbul, Turkey, December 16, 2022.

Grapevine December 14, 2022: Making headlines

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

DECEMBER 14, 2022ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
OUTGOING COMMUNICATIONS Minister Yoaz Hendel with Ambassador of Finland Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen.