Newsweek in plain Finnish | Sunday 30.8.2026
Finnish military equipment cooperation with Israel. Finnish drone cooperation with Ukraine. Party summer meetings. Summer closing celebrations.
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Finland’s military equipment cooperation with Israel
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The picture shows Minister Antti Häkkänen and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the background is a Finnish Patria armored vehicle. Photo: Silja Viitala / Yle, Ronen Zvulun / EPA, Amir Cohen / Reuters, Patria, photo collage: Otso Ritonummi / Yle
First, news about foreign policy.
Finland and Israel continue cooperation on weapons and military equipment.
The new agreement will continue the cooperation between the countries for 10 years.
That’s a much longer time than before.
The Ministry of Defense did not publicly announce the new agreement, but Yle found out about it.
Finland and Israel signed an agreement even though Israel’s war in Gaza was already underway.
Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen says that Finland needs maintenance and spare parts for Finnish weapons from Israel.
The opposition parties, the Left Alliance and the Greens, are criticizing the agreement.
They say it is wrong to cooperate with Israel on weapons and military equipment because Israel continues its war in Gaza.
The Left Alliance plans to ask the government about the matter.
Finnish drone cooperation with Ukraine
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President Alexander Stubb visited Ukraine earlier this week. Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva
Let’s continue with another topic about foreign policy.
Finland and Ukraine are jointly developing drones, or military aircraft.
President Alexander Stubb reported on the matter when he visited Ukraine.
Experts say there are risks involved in making drones.
If Finland manufactures drones, it could increase the threat from Russia.
If drones are manufactured in Ukraine, the war will make the work difficult.
Finland and Ukraine are still negotiating the details of the drone agreement.
Party summer meetings
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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) proposed that Finland start raising money for defense with a new tax. The ruling parties, the National Coalition Party and the Finns Party, rejected the proposal. Photo: Paulus Markkula / Yle
Now domestic politics.
The parliamentary parties have held summer meetings this week.
The biggest dispute came over the defense tax, which was proposed by the SDP.
The SDP wants to raise money for defense with a new tax.
The governing parties, the National Coalition Party and the Finns Party, do not accept the defense tax.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo says that raising taxes is the wrong policy.
The National Coalition Party and the Finns Party do not accept the defense tax because the government does not want to raise taxes.
Other parties also shared their goals at the meetings.
The center demands more support for rural areas. The center says that rural services must be strengthened.
The Greens and the Left Alliance are criticizing the government’s cuts. The parties say that the cuts will make life more difficult for low-income people.
End of summer party
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The Venetians are a celebration that marks the end of the summer cottage and boating season. It includes, for example, decorative lights. Photo: Rami Moilanen / Yle
Finally, news about the end of summer celebrations.
Many Finns have been celebrating the Venetians this weekend.
The Venetians are the closing party of the cottage and boating season.
People lit bonfires and set off fireworks.
The celebration ends the summer season.
Thousands of young people will also celebrate on Saturday in big cities.
Due to the end-of-summer celebrations, the police and rescue services were busy on Saturday.
This was a news week in plain Finnish. See you again, let’s hear from you!