thumb|250x250px|Inauguration of the [[President of Finland|President of the Republic of Finland at the Presidential Palace in 2024. On the left, the new President of the Republic, Alexander Stubb. On the right, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.]]

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. 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.

History

thumb|Count [[Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt. ]]

Early independence

thumb|250x250px|The Swedish royal couple is welcomed to Helsinki. Behind the royal couple president [[Lauri Kristian Relander with wife as well as Prince Wilhelm. ]]

In March 1917, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia abdicated the throne, which led to the collapse of the Russian Empire and left the Grand Duchy of Finland without a grand duke. Following the Bolshevik Revolution in November, Finland declared independence in December 1917. Soviet Russia was the first to recognize Finland on 4 January 1918, followed shortly by Sweden, France, and Germany.

In late January 1918, Finnish socialists launched a civil war with the support of Russian Bolsheviks. The anti-communist Whites, in turn, were supported by the German Empire. German assistance initially took the form of arms shipments and the deployment of Finnish Jägers trained in Germany. During the Finnish Civil War, Russia and Germany concluded the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, under which most of the Russian troops withdrew from Finland, leaving the Finnish Reds without support. Already in February, Finland's ambassador to Berlin, Edvard Hjelt, had formally requested German military intervention. In April, the German Baltic Sea Division landed at Hanko and took Helsinki from the Red Guards.

To secure German assistance, Finland and Germany had signed a peace treaty accompanied by a trade agreement that granted significant benefits for German industry. A secret supplementary protocol authorized German forces to establish bases in Finland and to operate through Finnish territory to the Arctic Ocean.

However, Germany's defeat in the World War I and the abdication of Wilhelm II also put an end to Finland's monarchy project and forced a reorientation of its foreign policy. German forces withdrew from Finland following the Armistice of 11 November 1918. General Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, who had opposed the pro-German orientation, assumed the position of Regent of Finland. Mannerheim advocated the entente cordiale, supporting alignment with Franco–British relations. A republican constitution was adopted in Finland in 1919, and the Allied powers agreed to recognize Finland following the Paris Peace Conference.

Between the world wars

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.

World War II

thumb|[[Risto Ryti and Marshal Mannerheim]]By 1940, Finland and Sweden considered forming a political union, but Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union obstructed these plans. The Soviet Union had not relinquished its strategic objective of bringing Finland under its control. Finland's only remaining option was partnership with Germany. Germany, for its part, was interested in cooperation with Finland due to the presence of nickel deposits in Lapland, a raw material of vital importance for the production of defence equipment. The peace settlement in 1944 with the Soviet Union led to the Lapland War in 1945, where Finland fought Germans in northern Finland.

During the Cold War

thumb|327x327px|After the [[Second World War, President Juho Kusti Paasikivi, was remembered as the main architect of Finland's foreign policy.]]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.thumb|President [[Urho Kekkonen is the longest-serving president in the history of Finland.]]The participating states signed a treaty that guaranteed the free movement of people and information. This provision became a catalyst for demands for human rights within the Eastern Bloc. The CSCE conference thus played a role in undermining the Iron Curtain. Hosting the CSCE was, moreover, an acknowledgement of Finland's neutrality.

The President of the United States Ronald Reagan conducted a three-day state visit to Finland in 1988, hosted by President Mauno Koivisto. This visit symbolised the diplomatic relations between the two nations during the late Cold War period.

In 1990, the Helsinki Summit took place in Finland between U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. The agenda of the summit prominently featured the issue of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, which had precipitated international tensions.

Dissolution of 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.

Finland officially established its relations with NATO in 1992 when it participated as an observer in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) foreign ministers’ meeting. This marked the beginning of Finland's engagement with NATO cooperation mechanisms following the end of the Cold War, motivated primarily by the need to monitor security developments in neighboring Russia and the Baltic states. Negotiations to join NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) were initiated in 1993, and Finland formally joined the PfP program in 1994. Initially, Finland's cooperation with NATO was restricted to non-combat areas such as rescue operations, peacekeeping training, and environmental protection.

In November 1995, Finland's Parliament was presented with a new peacekeeping law that facilitated broader participation in international peace operations. This legal framework enabled Finland's full engagement in the Bosnia IFOR peacekeeping mission in 1996 as a full and active peace partner.

thumb|President [[Dmitry Medvedev and President Tarja Halonen in Helsinki in 2009. ]]

During the 1990s, Finnish exports to Russia recovered gradually after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the severe trade disruptions that followed. The economic situation in Russia came to stabilize during the 2000s, resulting in increased bilateral trade. By 2008, Russia had regained its status as Finland's largest export market, fuelled not only by industrial goods but also by the growing presence of Russian consumers who contributed to Finland's economic vitality.

Change in constitution

In 2000, a major reform was made to the Constitution of Finland, which repealed the previously valid four separate constitutional laws and created a unified, modernised Constitution. This reform particularly signified a significant shift in the leadership of foreign policy.

According to the Constitution of 2000, foreign policy is led by the President of the Republic in cooperation with the Council of State (the government). This means that the President's power in foreign affairs is no longer exclusive but emphasizes collaboration with the government. Additionally, due to EU membership, the leadership of foreign policy was divided: the Council of State was given decision-making authority in preparing EU affairs and national measures, while the President retained responsibility for traditional foreign policy outside the EU. In practice, this transferred much power from the President to the Prime Minister and the government, while also increasing the role of Parliament.

With this change, the President's power in domestic politics was significantly reduced, and the Prime Minister became the key decision-maker in forming the government and leading the EU aspect of foreign policy. Except in times of crisis, the Constitution of 2000 emphasized cooperation and the President's role is focused on foreign and security policy, but with more limited supervision and authority than before.

thumb|President [[Donald Trump meets with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Monday, August 18, 2025, in the Oval Office. ]]

Multilateral relations

Since 1917, Finland has joined numerous multilateral organizations. Key ones include:

  • League of Nations (1920)
  • Bank for International Settlements (1930)
  • International Monetary Fund (IMF) (1948)
  • International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) (1948)
  • General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) (1950)
  • United Nations (UN) (1955)
  • Nordic Council (1955)
  • International Finance Corporation (1956)
  • International Development Association (1960)
  • European Free Trade Association (EFTA) (1961, until 1994)
  • Asian Development Bank (1966)
  • Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (1969)
  • Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) (1973)
  • Inter-American Development Bank (1977)
  • African Development Bank (1982)
  • Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (1988)
  • Council of Europe (1989)
  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) (1991)
  • World Trade Organization (WTO) (1995)
  • European Union (EU) (1995)
  • Schengen Area (2001)
  • INTELSAT (1999)
  • NATO Partnership for Peace (1994) and full NATO membership (2023)

NATO

Finland's relationship with NATO began to strengthen immediately after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, when Finland joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) as an observer in 1992, established for former Warsaw Pact members. Finland started to move closer to NATO by joining the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 1994, developing cooperation in defense matters while maintaining military non-alignment. From the 1990s onwards, Finland built increasingly closer ties with NATO, participating in international crisis management operations and signing a host nation support agreement with NATO in 2014, which defined the principles of assistance during crises and exercises.

As the security environment changed, especially following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, Finland's security policy situation became decisive. Finland decided to apply for NATO membership in May 2022. The Finnish Parliament strongly approved the membership, with opponents in the minority. Finland's NATO membership came into force on April 4, 2023, making Finland a full member and part of NATO's collective defense guarantees under Article 5.

This membership marked the end of Finland's long-standing military non-alignment and strengthened Finland's security in a changed European security landscape. Finland's membership also enhances stability and security in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe, with Finland actively participating in NATO's collective defense and decision-making.

Diplomatic relations

List

List of countries which Finland maintains diplomatic relations with:

{| class="wikitable sortable"

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|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland is represented in Djibouti through its embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  • Djibouti is represented in Finland through its embassy in Moscow, Russia.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland recognised Egypt on February 15, 1947.
  • Egypt has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Cairo.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->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. On April 29, 2009, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development announced that the Finnish government had made a grant of 11.4&nbsp;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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • 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, Marrakesh, Safi, and Tangiers.
  • Morocco has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland recognised Mozambique on July 4, 1975.
  • Mozambique is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Finland has an embassy in Maputo.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|See Finland – South Africa relations

A South African legation was established in 1967 and relations were then upgraded to ambassadorial level in March 1991.

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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|thumb|President of Tunisia [[Habib Bourguiba visiting Valio on his visit in Finland 1963.]]

  • 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.
  • Tunisia has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland recognised Zambia on October 29, 1964.
  • Zambia is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Finland has an embassy in Lusaka.

|}

Americas

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Country

!width="12%"| Formal Relations Began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Antigua and Barbuda.

|--valign="top"

|||

|See Argentina–Finland relations

  • Argentina has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Buenos Aires and five honorary consulates (in Córdoba, Mendoza, Oberá, Rosario, and Ushuaia).

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland's embassy in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada attends to consular matters relating to The Bahamas.
  • Finland also has an honorary consulate in Nassau.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Barbados is represented in Finland by their embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate general in Christ Church.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Belize.
  • Finland also has an honorary consulate in Belize City.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Bolivia is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Finland is accredited to Bolivia from its embassy in Lima, Peru.

|--valign="top"

|||||See Brazil–Finland relations thumb|President [[Tarja Halonen together with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil in Helsinki 2007]]

  • Brazil has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Brasília.

|--valign="top"

|||||See Canada–Finland relations thumb|Prime Minister [[Sanna Marin and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau]]

  • Canada has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Ottawa.

|--valign="top"

|||||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. The two countries maintain resident ambassadors in both capitals.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland has an honorary consulate in Roseau.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • The Dominican Republic is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate general in Santo Domingo.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Grenada is represented in Finland by their embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate in St. George's.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Guatemala is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate in Guatemala City.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on April 2, 1979.
  • Guyana is represented in Finland by their embassy in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Finland also has an honorary consulate general in Georgetown.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland's embassy in Mexico City, Mexico attends to consular matters relating to Haiti.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate general in Port-au-Prince.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Jamaica is represented in Finland by their embassy in London, United Kingdom.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate general in Kingston.

|--valign="top"

|||||See Finland–Mexico relations

thumb|President Sauli Niinistö meeting with President [[Enrique Peña Nieto in 2015]]

Mexico recognized the independence of Finland in July 1920.

  • Finland has an embassy in Mexico City.
  • Mexico has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||||See Finland–Nicaragua relations

  • Finland is accredited to Nicaragua from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Nicaragua has an honorary consulate in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Panama is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Finland's embassy in Bogota, Colombia attends to consular matters relating to Panama.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate general in Panama City.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

||||| thumb|150px|Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Erkki Tuomioja with Embajador Fernando Rojas in 2014]]

  • Peru has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Lima.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland has an honorary consulate in Basseterre.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland has an honorary consulate in Castries.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland is represented in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines through a roving ambassador.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate in Kingstown.
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is represented in Finland through its embassy in London.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland's embassy in Brasília, Brazil attends to consular matters relating to Suriname.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate in Paramaribo.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Trinidad and Tobago is accredited to Finland from its embassy in London, United Kingdom.
  • Finland has an honorary consulate general in Barataria.

|--valign="top"

||| – 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.

|--valign="top"

|||||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.

|--valign="top"

|||||

  • Finland is accredited to Venezuela from its embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.
  • Venezuela is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Oslo, Norway.

|}

Asia

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Country

!width="12%"| Formal Relations Began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Afghanistan recognised the independence of Finland on July 17, 1928.
  • Afghanistan is accredited to Finland through its embassy in Oslo, Norway.
  • Finland opened a liaison office in Kabul in 2002. It converted into an embassy on January 1, 2006.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|See Azerbaijan–Finland relations

thumb|170px|[[Alexander Stubb with Ilham Aliyev in 2024]]

  • 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.

|- valign="top"

|||<!--Date started-->20 January 1970|| thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Prime Minister [[Hun Sen]]

  • Finland recognized Cambodia on 19 December 1969. Diplomatic relations established on 20 January 1970, re-established 9 August 1976.
  • Finland is represented in Cambodia through its embassy in Bangkok, Thailand

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->October 28, 1950||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|See Finland–Georgia relations thumb|President Sauli Niinistö with President of Georgia [[Salome Zourabichvili in 2019]]

  • 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.
  • Finland is an EU member and Georgia is an candidate.
  • On April 22, 2009, the Georgian Foreign Minister visited Finland.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|See Finland–India relations thumb|The Prime Minister, [[Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen in Helsinki on 2006.]]

  • Finland has an embassy in New Delhi and three honorary consulates in Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai.
  • India has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|See Finland–Indonesia relations

  • Finland recognised the independence of Indonesia on February 10, 1950.
  • Finland has an embassy in Jakarta and honorary consulates in Denpasar and Medan.
  • Indonesia has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->||See Finland–Iran relations thumb|[[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the Farah Pahlavi visit to Espoo, Finland. To their right, the Finnish president Urho Kekkonen in 1970]]

Photograph of the Shah and the Shahbanu during their visit to Tapiola residencial area in Espoo, Finland. To their right, the Finnish president Urho Kekkonen.

  • Finland has an embassy in Tehran.
  • Iran has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland recognised Iraq on May 15, 1959.
  • Finland has an embassy in Baghdad.
  • Iraq has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->||See Finland–Israel relations

  • Finland recognised Israel on March 18, 1949.
  • Finland has an embassy in Tel Aviv.
  • Israel has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • 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

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|See Finland–Japan relations thumb|[[Sauli Niinistö and Shinzo Abe]]

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

See Finland–Kazakhstan relations

  • Finland recognized Kazakhstan upon its independence from the Soviet Union.
  • Finland has an embassy in Astana.
  • Kazakhstan has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland recognized Kazakhstan upon its independence from the Soviet Union.

|--valign="top"

|||||See Finland–Malaysia relations

  • Finland has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
  • Malaysia has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland recognised Nepal on December 14, 1955.
  • Finland has an embassy in Kathmandu.
  • Nepal is represented in Finland through its embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark.

|--valign="top"

|

|<!-- start date -->

|See Finland–North Korea relations

  • Finland recognized the People's Democratic Republic of Korea on April 13, 1973.
  • Finland condemns North Korean nuclear tests and fully agrees with EU foreign policy statements on this matter.
  • Finland has contributed to humanitarian assistance to North Korea through the Red Cross and the World Food Programme.

|-

|

|

|Northern Cyprus has a Representative Office in Helsinki.

|-

|

|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.

|-

|

|July 14, 1995

|

  • Finland has an embassy in Manila.
  • Philippines is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland has an embassy in Riyadh and an honorary consulate general in Jeddah.
  • Saudi Arabia has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->||

  • 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.
  • South Korea has an embassy in Helsinki.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

  • Finland had an embassy in Damascus and two honorary consulates general in Aleppo and Latakia.
  • Syria is represented in Finland through its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.

|--valign="top"

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|

  • Thailand, previously known as Siam, recognised Finland's independence on October 9, 1919.
  • 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.
  • Thailand has an embassy in Helsinki.

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|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 Adana, Alanya, Antalya, Belek, Bodrum, İzmir and Kayseri.
  • Turkey has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and of NATO.
  • Finland is an EU member and Turkey is an EU candidate. Finland supports Turkey's accession negotiations to the EU, although negotiations have now been suspended.
  • Turkey did not fully support the accession of Finland to NATO until March 2023, whereupon it was accepted.
  • See also Turks in Finland

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|See Finland–United Arab Emirates relations

  • Finland recognised United Arab Emirates on February 21, 1975.
  • Finland has an embassy in Abu Dhabi.
  • United Arab Emirates has an embassy in Helsinki.

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|See Finland–Vietnam relations

  • 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.

|}

Europe

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Country

!width="12%"| Formal Relations Began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||||thumb|Finnish Prime Minister [[Sanna Marin and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama]]

See Albania–Finland relations

  • Albania is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Finland is accredited to Albania from its embassy in Athens, Greece.
  • Albania is an EU candidate and Finland is a member.
  • Both countries are full members of NATO and the Council of Europe.

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|||

|See Austria–Finland relations thumb|Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and President of Austria [[Alexander Van der Bellen in 2023]]

  • Austria has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Vienna.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

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|thumb|Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and [[Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in 2021]]

  • Finland recognised the independence of Belarus on 30 December 1991.
  • Finland is represented in Belarus through its embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, which also operates a liaison office in Minsk.
  • Belarus opened an embassy in Helsinki on 5 December 2011.

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|

  • Belgium has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Brussels.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO and the Council of Europe.

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|||

|See Bulgaria–Finland relations

thumb|Finnish Prime Minister [[Petteri Orpo and Mariya Gabriel in 2023]]

  • 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.
  • Finland has an embassy in Sofia and an honorary consulate in Varna.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.

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|||||See Croatia–Finland relations

thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Croatian Prime Minister [[Andrej Plenković]]

  • Croatia has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Zagreb.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO and the Council of Europe.

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|||

|See Cyprus–Finland relations

  • Finland recognised Cyprus on August 16, 1960.
  • Cyprus has an embassy in Helsinki and an honorary consulate in Vantaa.
  • Finland has an embassy in Nicosia.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

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||||| thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Prime Minister of Czech Republic [[Petr Fiala in 2022]]

  • Czech Republic has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland has an embassy in Prague.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO and the Council of Europe.

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|||

|See 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, NATO, the Council of Europe and the Council of the Baltic Sea States.
  • Both countries are full members of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

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. 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. During the Winter war and the Continuation war, Denmark took 4,200 Finnish war children. 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.

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|See Estonia–Finland relations

thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Prime Minister of Estonia [[Kaja Kallas in 2022]]

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&nbsp;million Finns reported visiting Estonia. Finnish and Swedish investors are the largest foreign investors in Estonia. 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, NATO and the Council of Europe.
  • Both countries are full members of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

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|See Finland–France relations thumb|Prime Minister [[Petteri Orpo with President of France Emmanuel Macron in Paris 2023]]

  • 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).
  • France has an embassy in Helsinki and its honorary consulates in Hämeenlinna, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Oulu, Pori, Rovaniemi, Tampere and Turku.
  • There are an estimated 6,000 Finns living in France.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.

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|||

|See Finland–Germany relations

thumb|[[C.G.E. Mannerheim, Adolf Hitler and Risto Ryti in June 4th 1942 during Hitler's visit in Finland]]

thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Chancellor [[Olaf Scholz]]

  • 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.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO and the Council of Europe.

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|See Finland–Greece relations thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin with Prime Minister of Greece [[Kyriakos Mitsotakis in 2022]]

  • 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, NATO and the Council of Europe.

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|See Finland–Hungary relations

  • 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).
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO and the Council of Europe.

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|||||See Finland–Iceland relations

thumb|150px|Sanna Marin met the Prime Minister of Iceland [[Katrín Jakobsdóttir in Kesäranta on 2022]]

  • Finland has an embassy in Reykjavík.
  • Iceland 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 Icelandic, if necessary.
  • Both countries are full members of NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

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|thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin with Taoiseach, Prime Minister of Ireland [[Micheál Martin in 2022]]

  • Finland has an embassy in Dublin and three honorary consulates (in Cork, Dublin and Limerick).
  • Ireland has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of Council of Europe and of the European Union.

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|See Finland–Italy relations

thumb|Finnish President Sauli Niinistö with Italian President [[Sergio Mattarella]]

  • 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.
  • Italy has an embassy in Helsinki and its honorary consulates in Hanko, Jyväskylä, Kotka, Kuopio, Oulu, Pori, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.

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|

Finland recognised Kosovo March 7, 2008. Finland maintains an embassy in Pristina.

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|See Finland–Latvia relations thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin met Latvia's Prime Minister [[Krišjānis Kariņš 12 February 2020]]

  • 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, the European Union, NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

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|See Finland–Lithuania relations thumb|200px|Lithuanian President [[Gitanas Nausėda met with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Helsinki, 2 September 2025]]

  • Finland recognised Lithuania's independence de facto on November 14, 1919, and de jure on October 14, 1921.
  • Finland recognised Lithuania's independence on 28 August 1991, and the two countries started diplomatic relations the very same day. Finland is a key partner and neighbour to Lithuania, with the countries pursuing active cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, regional, information security, to name a few. Currently, there are 11 bilateral agreements regulating the relationship between Lithuania and Finland different fields.
  • 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, the European Union, NATO, Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

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|thumb|Sanna Marin and Prime Minister of Luxembourg [[Xavier Bettel in 2022]]

  • Luxembourg recognised Finland's independence on October 25, 1921.
  • Finland has an embassy in Luxembourg City.
  • Luxembourg is accredited to Finland through its embassy in Copenhagen.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.

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|

  • Finland is represented in Malta through its embassy in Rome, Italy, and an honorary consulate in Valletta.
  • Malta is represented in Finland by a non-resident ambassador (based in Valletta at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and an honorary consulate in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union.

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|thumb|Sanna Marin met the Prime Minister of Montenegro [[Dritan Abazović, on 2022]]

  • Finland recognised Montenegro 29 June 2006.
  • Finland is an EU member and Montenegro is an candidate.
  • Both countries are full members of NATO.

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|||

|See Finland–Netherlands relations thumb|President of Finland Kekkonen with the [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld on their way to Palace, October 24, 1972]] thumb|Prime Minister Orpo and Prime Minister of Netherlands [[Mark Rutte|Rutte in 2024]]

  • 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.
  • The Netherlands has an embassy in Helsinki and consulates (in Kuopio, Mariehamn, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Tampere, Turku and Vaasa).
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

|- valign="top"

|||<!--Date started-->||thumb|Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin with North Makedonian President [[Stevo Pendarovski in 2022]]

  • Finland is an EU member and North Macedonia is an candidate.
  • Both countries are full members of NATO.

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|||

|See Finland–Norway relations

thumb|250px|[[Olav V, King of Norway, and President of Finland Urho Kekkonen in 1961]]

  • 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, Council of Europe, NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

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|See Finland–Poland relations thumb|150px|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Prime Minister of Poland [[Mateusz Morawiecki in 2022]]

  • Finland has an embassy in Warsaw and an honorary consulate in Gdynia.
  • Poland has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the European Union, and NATO.

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|||

|See Finland–Portugal relations

  • 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.
  • Portugal has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.

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|

  • Romania recognised Finland on April 8, 1920.
  • Finland has an embassy in Bucharest and two honorary consulates (in Bucharest and Constanţa).
  • Romania has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

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|

thumb|right|[[Nikita Khrushchev speaking, Urho Kekkonen, Leonid Brezhnev, Nikolai Podgorny, Jorma Vanamo and Kustaa Loikkanen in 1963]]

thumb|[[Vladimir Putin and Sauli Niinistö in 2017]]

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 Soviet Union in 1939. Finland fought the Winter War and the Continuation War against the Soviets in World War II. During the 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. 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.

  • Finland has an embassy in Moscow and a consulate-general in Saint Petersburg.
  • Russia has an embassy in Helsinki, a consulate-general in Turku and consulates in Lappeenranta and Mariehamn.

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|See Finland–Serbia relations

  • Finland has an embassy in Belgrade.
  • Serbia has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Finland is an EU member and Serbia is an candidate.

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|thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Prime Minister of Slovakia [[Eduard Heger in 2022]]

  • Finland recognised the independence of Slovakia on January 1, 1993.
  • Finland has an embassy and an honorary consulate in Bratislava.
  • Slovakia has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.

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|||

|thumb|President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister of Slovenia [[Robert Golob meet up in 2023 Vilnius summit]]

  • 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 and NATO.

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 Janša formally complained to the Finnish ambassador in Ljubljana. This controversy became known as the Patria case.

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|See Finland–Spain relations thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Spanish Prime Minister [[Pedro Sánchez in Stockholm on 2 February 2023]]

  • 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.
  • Spain has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.

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|||

|

thumb|President [[Urho Kekkonen, Swedish Queen Silvia, director Åke Wolfram of Wärtsilä, and king Carl XVI Gustaf in Turku on 28 April 1981]]

thumb|Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Prime Minister [[Ulf Kristersson in Stockholm on 2 February 2023]]

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.
  • Both countries became members of the European Union on 1 January 1995.
  • Both countries applied for NATO membership on 18 May 2022. Finland became a member on 4 April 2023, while Sweden became a member on 7 March 2024.
  • Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO and of the Council of Europe.

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|

  • Finland recognised Switzerland on January 29, 1926.
  • Finland has an embassy in Bern.
  • Switzerland has an embassy in Helsinki.

|- valign="top"

|||

|See Turkey in Asia Above

  • See Finland–Turkey relations

|--valign="top"

|||

|See Finland–Ukraine relations

thumb|Finnish Prime Minister [[Sanna Marin meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyiv, Ukraine, 26 May 2022]]

  • In 1918, Finland was one of the first countries which recognised Ukraine in 1918 and opened its diplomatic mission in Kyiv.
  • Finland recognised Ukraine on December 30, 1991.
  • Finland has an embassy in Kyiv.
  • Ukraine has an embassy in Helsinki.
  • Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
  • Finland is an EU member and Ukraine is an candidate.

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|||

|See Finland–United Kingdom relations

thumb|Prime Minister [[Keir Starmer with President of Finland Alexander Stubb]]

  • 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.
  • The United Kingdom has an embassy in Helsinki and honorary consulates in Jyväskylä, Kotka, Kuopio, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa and Åland.
  • Both countries are full members of NATO and the Council of Europe.
  • Both countries are full members of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).

|}

Oceania

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Country

!width="12%"| Formal Relations Began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- start date -->

|

thumb|Australian Prime Minister [[Anthony Albanese and President of Finland Sauli Niinistö in 2022]]

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.

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|

thumb|Prime Minister [[Sanna Marin and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern]]

  • 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
  • border|21px FAO
  • G-9
  • IADB
  • border|21px IAEA
  • IBRD
  • border|21px ICAO
  • ICC
  • border|21px ICC
  • border|21px ICRM
  • IDA
  • IEA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • border|21px IFRCS
  • IHO
  • border|21px ILO
  • IMF
  • border|21px IMO
  • ITUC
  • Interpol
  • IOM
  • ISO
  • ITU
  • MINURSO
  • border|21px NATO
  • border|21px NC
  • NEA
  • border|21px NIB
  • NSG
  • 21px OAS (observer)
  • OECD
  • OPCW
  • border|21px OSCE
  • border|21px PCA
  • PFP
  • UNCTAD
  • border|21px UNESCO
  • UNHCR
  • UNIDO
  • UNIKOM
  • UNITAR
  • UNMEE
  • UNMIBH
  • UNMIK
  • UNMOGIP
  • UNMOP
  • UNOMIG
  • UNTAET
  • UNTSO
  • border|21px UPU
  • border|21px WEU (observer)
  • WFTU
  • border|21px WHO
  • WIPO
  • border|21px WMO
  • WTrO
  • Zangger Committee

Sub-national government participation

border|21px Åland Islands

  • Unrepresented United Nations

See also

  • Finland under Swedish rule
  • Grand Duchy of Finland
  • Finland–NATO relations
  • Politics of Finland
  • Arctic policy of Finland
  • Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)
  • List of diplomatic missions in Finland
  • Visa requirements for Finnish citizens
  • Pulp mill conflict between Argentina and Uruguay (for the conflict over the installation of a pulp mill by the Finnish company Botnia in Uruguay, across the Uruguay River)

References

Sources