Finland raises military reserve age to 65, aims for 1 million troops by 2031, as NATO warns of Russian threat

On 22 December, Finnish President Alexander Stubb signed a law raising the maximum age for remaining in the military reserve to 65, according to the Finnish Ministry of Defense.

Under the new rules, all conscripts, regardless of rank, will remain in the reserve until the age of 65. Previously, the age limit was 50 for enlisted personnel and 60 for non-commissioned officers and officers, reports Yle.

A reserve of up to one million, and no age limit for senior officers

The law also introduces significant changes for senior command staff:

• Colonels, commodores, and higher-ranking officers may be called up with no upper age limit, as long as they are fit for service.
• The reserve service period for NCOs and officers has been extended by five years.
• Only reservists holding military ranks will continue to be regularly assigned to refresher training.

Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen says that during a five-year transition period, the size of the reserve will increase by 125,000 personnel.

The government expects Finland’s total reserve force to reach around one million people by 2031.

Signal to Russia and focus on national defence

The Finnish Ministry of Defense emphasized that the reform:

• expands the ability of the Defense Forces and the Border Guard to draw on experienced personnel in crisis situations;
• affects a limited number of citizens, not the entire population;
• enables voluntary participation in national defence activities in the future without age restrictions.

“Together with all other measures to strengthen defence, this sends a message that Finland is taking care of its security now and in the future,” Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that if China uses military force, it will pressure its junior partner, Russia under Putin’s leadership, to occupy Europe. Therefore, Europe must be prepared for such an attack. 

Meanwhile, Reuters' sources said that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to seize all of Ukraine and ultimately restore control over parts of Europe that once belonged to the Soviet empire.