By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian News Finland
Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte reportedly told Finnish President Alexander Stubb, “Alex, I love you, but you are not producing enough for your defense.”
However, available defense data strongly challenges that claim.
Finland currently allocates around 2.3% of its GDP to defense, well above the Netherlands’ 1.6%. Importantly, Finland’s figure does not include conscription-related costs, making the actual investment even higher.
A comparison of military capabilities highlights a clear contrast between the two countries. Finland operates approximately 200 tanks, while the Netherlands has around 18. In artillery strength, Finland maintains about 870 units, compared to roughly 56 in the Dutch arsenal.
The difference is even more pronounced in reserve forces. Finland has an estimated 870,000 trained reservists, whereas the Netherlands has around 6,500.
It is also worth noting that during Mark Rutte’s time in office from 2010 to 2024, Dutch defense spending did not increase as a share of GDP, raising questions about the basis of his criticism.
Finland’s defense capability continues to strengthen as military spending and force readiness outpace several NATO counterparts.
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