Finland labeled arms exports as 'secret': The largest shipments go to Ukraine

"From 2000 to 2020, there was not a single decision to grant an export license that required classification," said Kari Paasonen, an expert at the Center for Peace and Conflict Research.

According to Yle's journalistic investigation, the first classified export license was granted in June 2021. Since then, 19 classified export licenses have been issued for eight countries.

According to Yle, one of the countries that requested secrecy is Israel. Most often, the secret arms shipments are sent to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defense explains the new practice as a response to the changed global security situation.

Previously, Finland exported armored personnel carriers and anti-drone defense systems abroad.

"Arms exports are a political decision. Almost all information about them comes from the authorities. If the authorities share less information, citizens have fewer opportunities to evaluate the actions of their country's leaders," Paasonen notes.

Finland’s Minister of Defense, Antti Häkkänen, earlier stated that the European Union must receive a roadmap from the US outlining how to act in the event of a US troop withdrawal from the European continent.

Häkkänen emphasized that a clear roadmap is necessary to ensure that Russia is left with no window of opportunity to try anything, and that US plans must be coordinated with EU initiatives to strengthen the bloc’s defense capabilities.