[Japan’s Voices No.19 / Global Perspectives on Japan] From the Arctic to the Indo-Pacific: Finland and Japan’s Converging Strategic Perspectives

Why the Indo-Pacific Matters to Finland

Geography has long shaped Finland’s strategic outlook. Situated on Europe’s northern edge and sharing a long border with Russia, Finland has traditionally focused on the Baltic Sea, Northern Europe and the Arctic. Yet today’s security environment demonstrates that security, prosperity and resilience can no longer be understood through separate regional lenses.

The Indo-Pacific has emerged as a central arena of global economic growth, technological innovation and geopolitical competition. Developments in the region affect global trade, supply chains, critical technologies, maritime routes and international security. For Finland, these are not distant developments but matters with direct implications for national and European interests.

Finland’s first comprehensive Indo-Pacific policy, adopted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in June 2026, reflects this reality. It seeks to advance Finland’s foreign and security policy objectives, strengthen regional stability and security, reinforce the rules-based international system, deepen political dialogue and partnerships, and make use of the region’s economic, commercial and technological opportunities. It also places strong emphasis on resilience and reducing strategic dependencies.

Japan’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), announced by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in May 2026, reflects a remarkably similar assessment and similarly emphasizes the indivisibility of economic security, technological resilience and strategic stability. Its priorities include building an economic ecosystem for the AI and data age, resilient supply chains for energy and critical materials, public-private cooperation and enhanced security cooperation.

Although emerging from different regional contexts, Finland’s Indo-Pacific policy and Japan’s updated FOIP converge around resilience, economic security, critical technologies, trusted partnerships and connectivity. Both reflect a broader recognition that economic and technological resilience are now integral to national security. This convergence is not simply about geography or traditional security. It reflects a broader geoeconomic understanding of security, in which technology, supply chains, infrastructure and access to critical resources have become increasingly important sources of strategic resilience.

Finland and Japan: Converging Strategic Perspectives

This convergence is particularly visible in four areas.

First, both countries place growing emphasis on resilience and recognise that resilience depends on cooperation across society. Finland’s Comprehensive Security model brings together public authorities, businesses, civil society and citizens, while Japan has extensive experience in disaster preparedness, infrastructure protection and risk management. 

Second, both increasingly view economic security as a strategic issue. Reducing critical dependencies, strengthening trusted supply chains and protecting access to essential resources have become important elements of national security.

Third, technology is becoming an increasingly important dimension of security. Japan’s focus on AI, data and advanced infrastructure complements Finnish strengths in telecommunications, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and space-based capabilities.

Fourth, both countries attach importance to connectivity and trusted partnerships. Japan brings extensive experience in Indo-Pacific cooperation and maritime affairs, while Finland contributes a European perspective and expertise in resilience, technology and secure connectivity. These similarities do not imply identical policies. Rather, they create a basis for practical cooperation.

Connecting the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific

The Arctic and the Indo-Pacific may appear geographically distant, but their strategic connections are becoming increasingly evident. Climate change, technological transformation and changing patterns of global trade are increasing the geopolitical significance of the Arctic. The gradual opening of Arctic maritime routes, growing interest in critical resources and shifting supply chains are creating new connections between the Arctic, Europe and Asia, while developments in the Indo-Pacific increasingly affect global economic and security networks.

Both Finland and Japan have an Arctic perspective, although their geographical positions, experiences and interests differ. Finland, as an Arctic state, has particular expertise in icebreaker design, winter navigation, cold-climate technologies, resilient infrastructure and Arctic logistics. Japan, meanwhile, has developed a longstanding engagement with the Arctic through scientific research, environmental cooperation, sustainable use and participation in Arctic governance, including as an observer in the Arctic Council. 

The two perspectives can be complementary. Secure infrastructure, resilient logistics, reliable access to critical resources and emerging maritime routes are concerns that extend beyond either region. Finland’s Arctic expertise can therefore complement Japan’s technological, maritime and Indo-Pacific capabilities.

The Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) between Finland, the United States and Canada illustrates how Finnish Arctic expertise can contribute to wider international cooperation on industrial capacity, icebreaking and infrastructure resilience. Technology provides another tangible connection. The cooperation between Finnish space company ICEYE and Japan’s IHI Corporation to develop an Earth-observation satellite constellation demonstrates how the two countries can translate strategic dialogue into practical cooperation in technology, resilience and security.

One Strategic Reality

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally altered Europe’s security environment. At the same time, developments in Asia demonstrate that security challenges can no longer be viewed solely through regional frameworks. Russia’s growing cooperation with China and North Korea, including the expanding military relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang, reinforces the connection between European and Indo-Pacific security dynamics.

The implications extend well beyond military affairs. Economic security, critical infrastructure, technology and supply chains have become central elements of national resilience. For highly open economies such as Finland and Japan, security of supply is inseparable from the stability of the wider international system.

Maritime chokepoints provide a clear example. Disruptions affecting routes through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea or key Indo-Pacific sea lanes can rapidly affect energy prices, transport costs, supply chains and industrial production across continents. Security in the Indo-Pacific therefore has direct implications for Europe, just as developments in Europe increasingly influence the wider strategic environment.

From Convergence to Cooperation

Finland does not need to replicate Japan’s role in the Indo-Pacific, nor does Japan need to replicate Finland’s role in Europe and the Arctic. The value of the partnership lies precisely in complementarity.

Finland can contribute its European and Arctic experience, including expertise in cold-climate technologies, resilient infrastructure, winter navigation and comprehensive security. Japan brings extensive experience in the Indo-Pacific, maritime affairs, disaster resilience, technology and regional connectivity, alongside its own Arctic engagement.

The significance of Finland-Japan cooperation therefore lies not simply in what one country can contribute to the other. It lies in the connections their partnership can create between the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific, Europe and Asia, and technology, security and economic resilience.

Japan’s updated FOIP and Finland’s Indo-Pacific policy provide a timely basis for turning this convergence into practical cooperation. As Finland expands its engagement in the Indo-Pacific and Japan deepens cooperation with European partners, both countries are well placed to demonstrate that resilience, connectivity and security are no longer regional concerns, but elements of a shared strategic future.

Jari Vilén serves as Finland’s Ambassador for the Indo-Pacific. He led the preparation of Finland’s first comprehensive Indo-Pacific policy, adopted in 2026. He previously served as Finland’s Ambassador for the Barents Region and chaired Finland’s Barents Euro-Arctic Council Presidency.

Ari Heikkinen is a Senior Adviser at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. He served as Finland’s Ambassador to Singapore from 2011 to 2015 and has extensive experience in Europe–Asia economic relations.

The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Government of Finland, or JIIA CGO.