Finland’s vision must be built around an increasingly electrified industrial sector, making use of the country’s resources as a whole

The development of Eastern Finland is being held back by a lack of local energy production. Wind power would be the quickest solution to this challenge, but the technological limitations of the Finnish Defense Forces’ current radar system are hindering the search for solutions. The current situation has become unsustainable for the vitality of Eastern Finland. Solving these challenges without compromising security requires courage and long-term commitment. It is a cause for concern for Finland’s national economy, as well as for the vitality and security of eastern Finland, if industrial investments worth billions of euros are lost to other countries due to a lack of clean energy production.

Internationally, the trend in territorial surveillance is already shifting. In Sweden and Poland, wind power is being utilized to support defense, particularly in countering drones. On June 6, 2026, Dagens Nyheter (DN) published an article titled “Wind Power—Our New Line of Defense Against Enemy Drones.” The same approach can be implemented in Finland as well, but in a more comprehensive manner through the ResilEast program.

ResilEast is a development program spanning approximately 25 years, designed to strengthen the security, energy self-sufficiency, and economic vitality of Finland’s and the EU’s eastern border regions by integrating energy, infrastructure, and defense solutions into a single cohesive system.

ResilEast offers Finland the opportunity to build an energy system that simultaneously enhances security. By building energy, road, data, and power grids together, cost-effective solutions can also be created to meet defense needs.

The idea behind the ResilEast model is to build support structures for various defense needs, particularly drone countermeasures. Cameras, radars, and sound and vibration sensors can be connected to these structures as needed. The structure can be part of energy production infrastructure, a road, or a strategic reserve facility.

As defense costs rise, we must find solutions that simultaneously strengthen the economy and security. ResilEast creates an opportunity to increase national wealth, improve the effectiveness of defense, and generate new revenue streams for Finland through the energy sector.

We need broad cooperation among government agencies, businesses, and political groups so that eastern Finland can be developed into an engine of growth, security, and industrial renewal for all of Europe.

Presidium of the Finnish Parliament’s ResilEast Network:
Member of Parliament Timo Suhonen, SDP.
Member of Parliament Hanna Holopainen, Greens.
Member of Parliament Ville Kaunisto, National Coalition Party.
Member of Parliament Markku Siponen, Center Party.

Read more about the ResilEast program: https://resileast.com/