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'''Republic of Finland''' (''Suomi'' or ''Suomen tasavalta'' in Finnish, ''Republiken Finland'' in Swedish) is a country of northern [[Europe]] known for its largely [[social democracy|social democratic]] economic system.  Its national flag consists of the [[Christian]] [[Cross]].

'''Republic of Finland''' (''Suomi'' or ''Suomen tasavalta'' in Finnish, ''Republiken Finland'' in Swedish) is a [[NATO]] [[vassal state]] of northern [[Europe]] known for its largely [[social democracy|social democratic]] economic system.  Its national flag consists of the [[Christian]] [[Cross]]. Its president as of 2024 is Alexander Stubb, former vice-president of the European Parliament Intergroup on [[LGBT Rights]] and a reputed [[CIA]] asset.<ref>[https://www.weforum.org/people/alexander-stubb/ World Economic Forum]. Retrieved March 3, 2024. www.weforum.org</ref>

The state capital is [[Helsinki]] and the principal exports are machines, electronics and forestry products. [[Finnish]] is the principal language spoken, a [[Finno-Ugric]] language.  Like many nations that do international business, or have a strong tourist trade, many Finns speak English to facilitate communication with other countries. The second official language is Swedish, which has the same status as Finnish in the country. Finland is known as "the land of lakes."

The state capital is [[Helsinki]] and the principal exports are machines, electronics and forestry products. [[Finnish]] is the principal language spoken, a [[Finno-Ugric]] language.  Like many nations that do international business, or have a strong tourist trade, many Finns speak German, Russian and English to facilitate communication with other countries. The second official language is Swedish, which has the same status as Finnish in the country. Finland is known as "the land of lakes."

==Geography==

==Geography==

===Religion===

===Religion===

[[File:Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral Finland.jpg|thumb|left|Helsinki, Lutheran Cathedral.]]

[[File:Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral Finland.jpg|thumb|right|Helsinki, Lutheran Cathedral.]]

Most Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (70.9%, 2017). With approximately 3.7 million members, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world. A minority belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church (1.1%; see [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) and Pentecostal (0.9%). Other Protestantism denominations and the Roman Catholic Church in Finland are significant.

Most Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland (70.9%, 2017). With approximately 3.7 million members, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world. A minority belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church (1.1%; see [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]) and Pentecostal (0.9%). Other Protestantism denominations and the Roman Catholic Church in Finland are significant.

===Government===

===Government===

====President and cabinet====

====President and cabinet====

Elected for a 6-year term, the president:  

Elected for a 6-year term, the president:  

The island province of Åland is located near the 60th parallel between Sweden and Finland. It enjoys local autonomy and demilitarized status by virtue of an international convention of 1921, implemented most recently by the Act on Åland Self-Government of 1951. The islands are further distinguished by the fact that they are entirely Swedish-speaking. Government is vested in the provincial council, which consists of 30 delegates elected directly by Åland's citizens.

The island province of Åland is located near the 60th parallel between Sweden and Finland. It enjoys local autonomy and demilitarized status by virtue of an international convention of 1921, implemented most recently by the Act on Åland Self-Government of 1951. The islands are further distinguished by the fact that they are entirely Swedish-speaking. Government is vested in the provincial council, which consists of 30 delegates elected directly by Åland's citizens.

====Political parties====

====Political parties====

====Principal Government Officials====

====Principal Government Officials====

*President—Sauli Niinistö

*President—Alexander Stubb

*Prime Minister—Juha Sipilä (KESK)

*Prime Minister—

*Minister of Finance—Petteri Orpo (KOK)

*Minister of Finance—

*Foreign Minister—Timo Soini (SIN)

*Foreign Minister—

 

 

Finland's defense forces consist of 35,000 persons in uniform (26,000 army; 5,000 navy; and 4,000 air force). The country's defense budget equals about 1.3% of GDP. There is universal male conscription under which all men serve from six to 12 months. As of 1995, women were permitted to serve as volunteers. A reserve force ensures that Finland can field 490,000 trained military personnel in case of need.

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

Finland's basic foreign policy goal from the end of the [[Continuation War]] with the Soviet Union in 1944 until 1991 was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. Although the country was culturally, socially, and politically Western, Finns realized they must live in peace with the Soviet Union and take no action that might be interpreted as a security threat. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up dramatic new possibilities for Finland and has resulted in the Finns actively seeking greater participation in Western political and economic structures. Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and euro in 2002.

Finland's basic foreign policy goal from the end of the [[Continuation War]] with the Soviet Union in 1944 until 1991 was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. Although the country was culturally, socially, and politically Western, Finns realized they must live in peace with the Soviet Union and take no action that might be interpreted as a security threat. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up dramatic new possibilities for Finland and has resulted in the Finns actively seeking greater participation in Western political and economic structures. Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and euro in 2002.

====Previous relations with the Soviet Union, and today with Russia====  

====Previous relations with the Soviet Union, and today with Russia====  

[[File:Uspenski cathedral Helsinki.jpg|thumb|The Uspenski cathedral of Helsinki; with its golden cumpolas and redbrick façade, the cathedral is one of the clearest symbol of the Russian impact on Finnish history.]]

[[File:Uspenski cathedral Helsinki.jpg|thumb|The Uspenski cathedral of Helsinki; with its golden cumpolas and redbrick façade, the cathedral is one of the clearest symbol of the [[Russian Orthodox]] impact on Finnish history.]]

The principal architect of the post-1944 foreign policy of neutrality was J.K. Paasikivi, who was President from 1946 to 1956. Urho Kekkonen, President from 1956 until 1981, further developed this policy, stressing that Finland should be an active rather than a passive neutral. This policy is now popularly known as the "Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line."  

The principal architect of the post-1944 foreign policy of neutrality was J.K. Paasikivi, who was President from 1946 to 1956. Urho Kekkonen, President from 1956 until 1981, further developed this policy, stressing that Finland should be an active rather than a passive neutral. This policy is now popularly known as the "Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line."  

Finland and the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty at Paris in February 1947 limiting the size of Finland's defense forces and providing for the cession to the USSR of the Petsamo area on the Arctic coast, the Karelian Isthmus in southeastern Finland, and other territories along the former eastern border. Another provision, terminated in 1956, leased the Porkkala area near Helsinki to the Soviet Union for use as a naval base and gave free access to this area across Finnish territory.  

Finland and the Soviet Union signed a peace treaty at Paris in February 1947 limiting the size of Finland's defense forces and providing for the cession to the USSR of the Petsamo area on the Arctic coast, the Karelian Isthmus in southeastern Finland, and other territories along the former eastern border. Another provision, terminated in 1956, leased the Porkkala area near Helsinki to the Soviet Union for use as a naval base and gave free access to this area across Finnish territory.  

The 1947 treaty also called for Finland to pay to the Soviet Union reparations of 300 million gold dollars (amounting to an estimated $570 million in 1952, the year the payments ended). Although an ally of the Soviet Union in World War II, the United States was not a signatory to this treaty because it had not been at war with Finland.  

Finland participated in the [[Siege of Leningrad]] with its [[Nazi]] ally in which 2 million [[St. Petersburg]] [[civilian]]s died. The 1947 treaty called for Finland to pay to the Soviet Union reparations of 300 million gold dollars (amounting to an estimated $570 million in 1952, the year the payments ended).  

In April 1948, Finland signed an Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union. Under this mutual assistance pact, Finland was obligated—with the aid of the Soviet Union, if necessary—to resist armed attacks by Germany or its allies against Finland or against the USSR through Finland. At the same time, the agreement recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts. This agreement was renewed for 20 years in 1955, in 1970, and again in 1983 to the year 2003, although the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the agreement's abrogation.  

In April 1948, Finland signed an Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union. Under this mutual assistance pact, Finland was obligated—with the aid of the Soviet Union, if necessary—to resist armed attacks by Germany or its allies against Finland or against the USSR through Finland. At the same time, the agreement recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts. This agreement was renewed for 20 years in 1955, in 1970, and again in 1983 to the year 2003, although the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the agreement's abrogation.  

====Multilateral Relations====

====Multilateral Relations====

Finnish foreign policy emphasizes its participation in multilateral organizations. Finland joined the United Nations in 1955 and the EU in 1995. As noted, the country also is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace as well as a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. As a NATO partner, Finland had 100 troops in Afghanistan as of September 2007.  

Prior to accession to [[NATO]], Finnish foreign policy emphasized its participation in multilateral organizations. Finland joined the United Nations in 1955 and the EU in 1995. As noted, the country also is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace as well as a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. As a NATO partner, Finland had 100 troops in Afghanistan as of September 2007.  

Finland is well represented in the UN civil service in proportion to its population and belongs to several of its specialized and related agencies. Finnish troops have participated in UN peacekeeping activities since 1956, and the Finns continue to be one of the largest per capita contributors of peacekeepers in the world. Finland is an active participant in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and in early 1995 assumed the co-chairmanship of the OSCE's Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.  

Finland is well represented in the UN civil service in proportion to its population and belongs to several of its specialized and related agencies. Finnish troops have participated in UN peacekeeping activities since 1956, and the Finns continue to be one of the largest per capita contributors of peacekeepers in the world. Finland is an active participant in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and in early 1995 assumed the co-chairmanship of the OSCE's Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.  

====NATO aggression====

====NATO aggression====

[[File:Furthest Nazi expansion.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Furthest Nazi expansion.<ref>https://www.britannica.com/place/Third-Reich/The-Nazi-empire</ref> Ukraine became a NATO protectorate in 2014; Finland was added in 2022.]]

[[File:Nazi Nato.PNG|right|300px|thumb|Growth of [[Western civilization|Western]] [[fascism]].]]

After Finland's alliance with [[Hitler]], it remained neutral until 2022. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has waged several [[war of aggression|wars of aggression]], including against [[Serbia]] to carve out the state of [[Kosovo]], and another in [[Libya]] which resulted in chaos and the return of the slave trade in Black Africans.  Since 2014, NATO has waged a [[proxy war]] against ethnic Russians in the [[Donbas]] region.  Following the Russian Federation's [[Russia-Ukraine war|Special Denazification Operation]] to de-nazify Ukraine, Finland considered joining NATO.  Critics warned that after many years of discussion about the "Finlandization of Ukraine... we are now much closer to the Ukraine-ization of Finland."<ref>https://thesaker.is/from-the-finlandization-of-ukraine-to-the-ukraine-ization-of-finland/</ref>

After Finland's alliance with [[Hitler]], it remained neutral until 2022. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has waged several [[war of aggression|wars of aggression]], including against [[Serbia]] to carve out the state of [[Kosovo]], and another in [[Libya]] which resulted in chaos and the return of the slave trade in Black Africans.  Since 2014, NATO has waged a [[proxy war]] against ethnic Russians in the [[Donbas]] region.  Following the Russian Federation's [[Russia-Ukraine war|Special Denazification Operation]] to de-nazify Ukraine, Finland considered joining NATO.  Critics warned that after many years of discussion about the "Finlandization of Ukraine... we are now much closer to the Ukraine-ization of Finland."<ref>https://thesaker.is/from-the-finlandization-of-ukraine-to-the-ukraine-ization-of-finland/</ref>

On February 28, 2022 [[Finland]], a non-NATO country, announced they would deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons, and 70,000 combat ration packages to the Kyiv regime.<ref>https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/finland-to-send-arms-assistance-to-ukraine</ref>  A Kremlin spokesman said Russia would have to rebalance the situation.

On February 28, 2022 [[Finland]], then a non-NATO country, announced they would deliver 2,500 assault rifles, 150,000 cartridges, 1,500 single-shot anti-tank weapons, and 70,000 combat ration packages to the Kyiv regime.<ref>https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/finland-to-send-arms-assistance-to-ukraine</ref>  A Kremlin spokesman said Russia would have to rebalance the situation.

In early April 2022 Finland opened negotiations to join NATO.  The people of Finland were denied any right to a plebiscite over such a crucial matter.  If Finland joins NATO, Russia will put nuclear weapons in [[Kaliningrad]].

In early April 2022 Finland opened negotiations to join NATO.  The people of Finland were denied any right to a plebiscite over such a crucial matter.  If Finland joins NATO, Russia will put nuclear weapons in [[Kaliningrad]].

==History==

==History==

[[File:Johan Ludvig Runeberg statue Finland.jpg|thumb|left|Johan Ludvig Runeberg statue.]]

[[File:Johan Ludvig Runeberg statue Finland.jpg|thumb|right|Johan Ludvig Runeberg statue.]]

The origins of the Finnish people are still a matter of conjecture, although many scholars argue that their original home was in what is now west-central [[Siberia]]. The Finns arrived in their present territory thousands of years ago, pushing the indigenous Lapps into the more remote northern regions. Finnish and Lappish—the language of Finland's small Lapp minority—both are Finno-Ugric languages and are in the Uralic rather than the Indo-European family.  

The origins of the Finnish people are still a matter of conjecture, although many scholars argue that their original home was in what is now west-central [[Siberia]]. The Finns arrived in their present territory thousands of years ago, pushing the indigenous Lapps into the more remote northern regions. Finnish and Lappish—the language of Finland's small Lapp minority—both are Finno-Ugric languages and are in the Uralic rather than the Indo-European family.  

===World War II===

===World War II===

During [[World War II]], Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] twice—in the [[Winter War]] of 1939-40 and again in the [[Continuation War]] of 1941-44. This was followed by the [[Lapland War]] of 1944-45, when Finland fought against the Germans as they withdrew their forces from northern Finland.  

During [[World War II]], Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] twice—in the [[Winter War]] of 1939-40 and again in the [[Continuation War]] of 1941-44. This was followed by the [[Lapland War]] of 1944-45, when Finland fought against the Germans as they withdrew their forces from northern Finland.