By Hammad Kahlun
Scandinavian news Finland
Exclusive On-Camera Interview With Former Finnish PM
Former Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen granted an exclusive video interview to SNN News Finland correspondent Hammad Kahlun in Helsinki, addressing the most pressing questions surrounding Finland’s NATO membership, Russian aggression, and the reliability of US security guarantees.
The interview represents one of the most direct public statements by Vanhanen on Finland’s strategic transformation since the country formally joined NATO in April 2023.
‘Russia’s Policy Is Nowadays Very, Very Dangerous’
Asked why Finland abandoned its decades-long policy of military non-alignment, Vanhanen delivered a clear and direct answer.
He stated that Russia’s increasingly dangerous foreign policy was the sole driving force behind Finland’s decision to seek NATO membership, a shift that was formally completed during the previous Finnish parliamentary term.
A Historic Shift From Neutrality to Alliance
Vanhanen acknowledged that during his own tenure as Prime Minister a period when Finland was firmly committed to non-alignment NATO membership was not part of any serious national conversation.
The transformation represents one of the most significant foreign policy reversals in modern Finnish history, driven entirely by the changed security environment on Finland’s eastern border with Russia.
Question Over US Reliability Under Current Administration
Correspondent Hammad Kahlun pressed Vanhanen on a critical question whether Finland could fully rely on the United States under its current administration, given widespread perceptions of unpredictability in Washington.
Vanhanen responded with measured confidence, stating that while he is no longer in power and fully retired from politics, he places complete trust in the Finnish government, parliament, and NATO allies to manage the country’s security effectively.
‘The USA Has Committed to NATO It Is a Legally Binding Agreement’
On the specific question of US reliability, Vanhanen was careful but firm. He stated that the United States has made a legally binding commitment to the NATO treaty an agreement between sovereign states that carries real legal and political weight.
He added that in any future crisis affecting a NATO member, all alliance countries must also be collectively prepared to act making the security guarantee a shared responsibility rather than one dependent on any single nation.
Confidence in Finland’s Security Under All Circumstances
Vanhanen concluded by expressing confidence that realism and inter-state cooperation within NATO would guarantee Finland’s security under all foreseeable circumstances.
He stopped short of criticising the US administration directly, maintaining the measured tone expected of a senior retired statesman while clearly acknowledging the complexities of the current geopolitical environment.
About the Interview
The exclusive was conducted by SNN News Finland correspondent Hammad Kahlun as part of the outlet’s ongoing series of high-level geopolitical interviews with senior Nordic and European leaders.
Matti Vanhanen served as Prime Minister of Finland from 2003 to 2010 and remains one of the most recognised figures in Finnish political history.
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