István Krizsák’s Post

Finland has quietly filled its wartime stockpiles and is activating some of the so-called “production reservation agreements” which means that companies produce at the armed forces’ request what is needed for logistics. The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) received extra money right in the spring of 2022 and started working on increasing stockpiles immediately, “luckily before many other European states woke up to the issue”, says the logistics chief. The analysis what is needed is based both on long-term assessments and the analysis of Ukraine’s ammunition consumption. Finland is already producing 5 times more heavy artillery munitions than pre-2022 but the capacity isn’t at max yet. It’s not only about ammo though, but everything that is needed to sustain long-time war fighting operations. Luckily thanks to its security of supply “philosophy”, Finland had stockpiles of raw materials and production lines ready to be taken into use if needed. Apart from domestic arms industry, like Patria, the “production reservation agreements” include a number of civilian companies as well. Sometimes the FDF have supplied the companies with the necessary production equipment that is now to be test-activated. Beyond the domestic arrangements, Finland is working on at least doubling its ammunition production capacity, which can make it one of the largest producers in Europe. The aim is twofold: to secure own stockpiles and to maintain capacity to support Ukraine for years to come. _

Over the past few weeks, the Estonian defence industry and its various aspects have been under the spotlight more than usual. This is due to the strong support of the newly-formed government for the view that the defence industry is part of the broader development of Estonia's defence capabilities.   Taavi Veskimägi, Chairman of the Council of the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industries Association, told ETV's news programme "Aktuaalne Kaamera" this week that the new government's coalition agreement will create a basis for the competitiveness of the Estonian defence industry, as Estonian defence companies are already making ground-breaking new products that create new added value.   "From this point of view, the added value that we are seeking is certainly much greater for us than these potential tax increases of a few percent," Veskimägi said.   In the context of increased attention, we share Taavi Veskimägi's highly topical article in Edasis, published in April, which opens up the state of the defence industry yesterday, today and tomorrow.   We strongly recommend you to read Taavi's full article on Edasi.org: https://lnkd.in/dQ3nzj9s Some of the key points from this article:   1. In 15 years, the Estonian defence industry has grown to such an extent that about 10 products from our company are already in use in Ukraine. In 15 years, the defence industry in Ukraine has grown to 15.15 million units. The defence industry's turnover in 2022 was 250 million, the target is to reach 1 billion euros by 2030, based on both exports and domestic demand. 2. The EKTL has reached a stage in its development where we believe that within 6-12 months, the members of the Union can increase their production capacity to a level that would provide €100 million of defence products to support Ukraine and help Ukraine win the war. 3. The Estonian defence industry can be the most flexible and reliable partner for the Estonian Defence Forces, play on home field advantage, and precisely serve the interests of Estonian defence. 4. The sector needs a little more security than it has at present. A good first step would be to amend the National Defence Act in such a way that it is unambiguously clear to Estonia that the local defence industry is part of Estonia's defence capability. #ektl #defenceindustry #coalitionagreement 

The discourse on adding a military organizational structure (Territorial Command) requires a comprehensive discussion, both regarding the threats faced, relevance, military reform, budget, regulations and defense doctrine. Here are my views on this topic. Link: https://lnkd.in/gTbEMwpd

The idea has been kicking around the Slovene Government for some time that the NATO budget should be spent, not on more armoured vechicles, but on building a NATO hospital for the short and long term care of soldiers injured in the Ukraine. In addition to the intrinsic attraction of the idea, it would enhance the reputation of Slovenia as a non-militaristic state. Why should feeding the military-industrial complex in Europe be such a high priority over humanistic imperatives?? https://lnkd.in/dknzGyKf

Leader of the Centre Party of Finland, Mr Antti Kaikkonen, former minister of defence, gave a speech today in the debate on the foreign and security policy report in the Parliament. Mr Kaikkonen said that Finland will spend 2,3% of the gross national product on defence next year. After the acquisition of the F-35s and the acquisition of the Navy’s corvettes, defence spending will be below 2% in the near future. Mr Kaikkonen pointed out that Finland should keep its defence spending above 2% also in 2027 and beyond. According to Mr Kaikkonen, the change and unpredictability of the security environment, the security of Finland and our responsibility as a member of the Alliance require it. In order to achieve this, he pointed out that new investments in defence should be prepared in the near future. Ordering and delivery times are long. If we want to use material in 2027 or 2028, orders should be placed very soon. The largest investments of the Air Force and the Navy have now been made. Mr Kaikkonen thinks that it’s the Army’s turn next.

The new coalition agreement signed yesterday pays more attention to the development of the Estonian defence industry. This is a historic event, as never before has the defence industry been so prominent at government level. It demonstrates confidence in the economic potential and security importance of this industry. The defence industry is an integral part of national defence. Important clauses in the new coalition agreement: 1. the growth of defence investments must contribute to the Estonian economy, to this end we will conclude direct contracts with Estonian defence industry companies, launch a defence investment fund and use localised procurement and counter-procurement, the principles of which will be approved by the Government of the Republic. 2. Accelerate the development of the Estonian defence industry through state defence investments and permanent contracts, with the aim of increasing the defence industry's turnover to €1 billion by 2030. 3. We will support cooperation between Estonian and Ukrainian defence companies and use the Ukrainian experience as a reference for increasing the export capacity of the Estonian defence industry. 4. In providing military support to Ukraine, we will be guided by the military needs of Ukraine and the Estonian Defence Forces and the desire to accelerate the development of the Estonian defence industry. In order to achieve this goal, we will channel as much as possible of the assistance to Ukraine into orders from the Estonian defence industry. 5. We will accelerate the development of the Defence Industrial Park in order to ensure suitable conditions for product development for Estonian defence companies. 6. Based on the principle that the local defence industry is part of our comprehensive national defence capability, we will apply the principle of localisation in defence procurement, including the partial transfer of defence technology and production to Estonia, with the aim of developing the domestic defence industry and ensuring security of supply. 7. We will increase the volume of support for the development of the defence industry and create a task force for the development of future defence capabilities. https://lnkd.in/dHHNNuph #ektl #defenceindustry #coalitionagreement 

Wrote about the development of defence industry in Estonia (in Estonian). My two key points: 1) developing a strong domestic defence industry is one possible way how to balance economically increasing defence expenditures. 2) during turbulent times we need more long-term strategic partnerships instead of transactional approach which focuses on the cheapest purchase price. https://lnkd.in/dASMgtCJ

Very good article by Ingvar Pärnamäe regarding long-term defence industry development, highlighting the importance of strategic vision to turn expensive defence costs into economic growth. Now also in ENG: https://lnkd.in/dGUFEh5K

One of the fundamental things that I often highlight for military reform in Indonesia is placement in civilian positions. Please read my analysis through this article. Link: https://lnkd.in/gT4pvV-e

🌍 IASA General Assembly Minutes 🌍 Theme: Analyzing the Geostrategic Impact: Military Drills in North and South Korea and the Global Implications for Peace and Security The General Assembly, held on the 7th of February 2024, commenced with an enlightening discussion led by esteemed ambassadors from various countries. Delving into the geostrategic implications of military drills in the Korean peninsula, the ambassadors provided valuable insights and perspectives on the complex geopolitical landscape. The Ambassador to North Korea, Ambassador Abdulrasheed O. Abolade, set the tone by providing a comprehensive historical account of interstate tensions in the Korean peninsula. Advocating for dialogue as a means to mitigate escalating tensions arising from military drills, Ambassador Abdulrasheed emphasized the importance of diplomatic efforts in fostering peace and stability in the region. Nigeria emerged as a proponent of peace, proposing dialogue as a fundamental component of global peace-building efforts. Recognizing the interconnectedness of global crises and their impact on the socio-political landscape of Africa, the Nigerian Ambassador, Ambassador Baki Adams, articulated Nigeria's commitment to fostering peace and stability within the region and beyond. The United States Ambassador, Ambassador Onuh Emmanuel, defended the country's stance on sovereignty and international relations amidst queries from delegates. Addressing concerns regarding the US's relations with North Korea, the Ambassador underscored the importance of upholding sovereignty while advocating for peace and security on a global scale. China emphasized the importance of military strength in maintaining global security and sovereignty. Engaging in discussions on regional stability, the Chinese Ambassador, Ambassador Firdaws Abdulazeez, highlighted the need for mutual respect among nations to prevent conflicts and uphold peace in the international arena.  Following the insightful discussions, delegates engaged in the formulation of resolutions to address pressing issues and promote peace. Through collaborative efforts, resolutions were drafted and subjected to voting procedures, reflecting the collective commitment of nations to resolving conflicts and fostering cooperation. Final Resolutions: South Korea to stop playing the victim game, and the UN to implement arms control agreements. The United States to remain neutral and act under the guidelines of the UN charter and the security council. Both parties to come to the negotiation table for an agreement. Increased cooperation through cultural exchanges. Respect for sovereignty. For the detailed minutes, visit [https://lnkd.in/dDWPJSkF] Stay tuned for more updates from IASA! #IASA #IASAUnilag #internationalaffairs #globalissues