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, 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. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs implements the foreign policy.
Since 2004, Greece has had an embassy in Valletta and accredited its first ambassador to Malta. Before that date, the Greek embassy in Rome was accredited for Malta. Malta has an embassy in Athens and two honorary consulates in Piraeus and Thessaloniki. The two countries share membership of the European Union and of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Relations between Finland and Russia have been conducted over many centuries, from wars between Sweden and Russia in the early 18th century, to the planned and realized creation and annexation of the Grand Duchy of Finland during Napoleonic times in the early 19th century, to the dissolution of the personal union between Russia and Finland after the forced abdication of Russia's last czar in 1917, and subsequent birth of modern Finland. Finland had its own civil war with involvement by Soviet Russia, was later invaded by the USSR, and had its internal politics influenced by it. Relations since then have been both warm and cool, fluctuating with time.
Foreign relations exist between Austria and Greece. Both countries have diplomatic relations since the early 19th century, after the Greek War of Independence, and today's relations are considered excellent.
Dutch-Greek relations are foreign relations between the Netherlands and Greece. Since 1834, both countries have diplomatic relations. The Netherlands have an embassy in Athens and 12 honorary consulates in Corfu, Herakleion, Kalamata, Kavala, Patras, Piraeus, Rhodes, Samos, Syros, Thessaloniki, Volos, and Ioannina. Greece has an embassy in The Hague, and a consulate-general in Rotterdam. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the European Union and NATO.
Foreign relations exist between Austria and Finland. Austria recognised Finland on 13 January 1918. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 July 1918. Austria has an embassy in Helsinki and 6 honorary consulates. Finland has an embassy in Vienna and 8 honorary consulates . Both countries are full members of the European Union and of the Council of Europe. The two countries became members of the European Union in 1995.
Finnish-Hungarian relations are the diplomatic and foreign relations between Finland and Hungary. Both countries are members of the European Union, Council of Europe, NATO, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Both people’s language are part of the Finno-Ugric language family. In March 2023, Hungary fully approved Finland's application for NATO membership. There is minor tension in Finno-Hungarian relations at the advent of the Russo-Ukrainian and the Russo-Georgian wars, as Finland places themselves as staunchly against Russia in these conflicts, where as Hungary is far more neutral.
Finnish-Serbian relations are foreign relations between Finland and Serbia. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1929. Finland has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe. Also Finland is an EU member and Serbia is an EU candidate. Finland supports Serbia's European Union membership.
Cypriot-Finnish relations are foreign relations between Cyprus and Finland. Finland recognized Cyprus on August 16, 1960. Both countries established diplomatic relations on September 2, 1961. Cyprus has an embassy in Helsinki and an honorary consulate in Vantaa. Finland has an embassy and 2 honorary consulates in Nicosia. The two countries share membership of the European Union, Council of Europe and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Finland–Poland relations refer to bilateral relations of Finland and Poland. Both countries are members of the European Union, NATO, OECD, OSCE, Council of the Baltic Sea States, HELCOM, Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 March 1919. Finland strongly supported Poland's the European Union membership during the latter's accession process. Poland strongly supported Finland's NATO membership during the latter's accession process.
Estonia–Finland relations are foreign relations between Finland and Estonia. The independent Republic of Finland, established in 1917, and the independent Republic of Estonia, established in 1918, established diplomatic relations and formally recognised each other in 1920. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were interrupted during World War II and officially restored on 29 August 1991. Finland has an embassy in Tallinn and an honorary consulate in Tartu. Estonia has an embassy in Helsinki and five honorary consulates, located in Oulu, Turku, Ekenäs, Tampere and Kotka. Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Council of Europe, European Union, NATO and the Eurozone. Finland has given full support to Estonia's membership of the European Union. Estonia also has strongly supported Finland's NATO membership. The majority languages in both countries are Finnic languages, as 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 million Finns reported visiting Estonia. The excise tax on alcohol is lower in Estonia than in Finland, thus it is common to buy large volumes of alcohol when returning from Estonia: a study in 2014 indicated that 34% of alcohol sold in Estonia is bought by Finns. Finnish and Swedish investors are the largest foreign investors in Estonia. Both Finland and Estonia are members of the European Union, Schengen agreement and the Eurozone, freeing international travel and trade between the countries. Finland is Estonia's top import partner, accounting for over 15% total import value in 2012, as well as the second-greatest market for Estonia's exports after Sweden. Finland's government recognised Estonia's independence in 1920. In response to the Soviet invasion, diplomatic missions were de facto removed. However, when Estonia restored its independence, this "temporary obstruction" was resolved. During the restoration of Estonia's independence, Finland secretly contributed with significant economic aid and know-how under the cover of "cultural co-operation" in order to not upset the Soviet Union. Finland continues to contribute militarily, such as officers' training, and the provision of equipment.
France–Finland relations are foreign relations between France and Finland. France was one of the first countries which recognised Finland's independence on 4 January 1918. Diplomatic relations between them were established on 24 January 1918. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO. According to a 2005 BBC World Service Poll, 48% of Finns view French influence positively, with 26% expressing a negative view. There are an estimated 7,000 Finns living in France. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe, European Union, NATO, and Eurozone. France strongly supported Finland's NATO membership during the latter's accession process.
Finland-Italy relations are foreign relations between Finland and Italy. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 September 1919. Finland has an embassy in Rome, Italy has an embassy in Helsinki. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe and the Eurozone.
Dutch–Finnish relations are foreign relations between the Netherlands and Finland. The Netherlands recognised Finland's independence on 28 January 1918. Diplomatic relations between them were established on 14 August 1918. The Netherlands has an embassy in Helsinki and consulates. Finland has an embassy in the Hague, an honorary consulate general in Amsterdam and other honorary consulates in Rotterdam and Terneuzen. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the European Union and NATO. The Netherlands supported Finland's NATO membership during Finland's accession into NATO, which was finalized on 4 April 2023.
Croatia–Sweden relations are foreign relations between Croatia and Sweden. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 January 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Zagreb and 2 honorary consulates.
Finland–Turkey relations are foreign relations between Finland and Turkey. 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, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Union for the Mediterranean. Also Finland is an EU member and Turkey is an EU candidate. Turkey did not support Finland's accession to NATO until March 2023, but accepted its participation.
Finland–Germany relations are the bilateral relations between the Finland and Germany. Both countries are part of the European Union, are signatories of the Schengen Agreement, and are members of the eurozone and NATO. Germany supported Finland's NATO membership during Finland's accession into NATO, which was finalized on 4 April 2023.
Norway and Sweden have a very long history together. They were both part of the Kalmar Union between 1397 and 1523, and a personal union between 1814 and 1905. The countries established diplomatic relations in 1905, after the dissolution of the union.
Bilateral relations exist between Greece and North Macedonia. Greece has an embassy in Skopje, and a Consulate General in Bitola. Similarly, North Macedonia maintains an embassy in Athens, and a consulate-general in Thessaloniki. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe and NATO. Greece is an EU member and North Macedonia is an EU candidate.
Portugal-Sweden relations are foreign relations between Portugal and Sweden. Portugal has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Lisbon and 3 honorary consulates. Both countries are full members of the United Nations, European Union, NATO, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Council of Europe. Portugal strongly supported Sweden's NATO membership during the latter's accession process.
