Finland will raise the upper age limit for reservist mobilization to 65 from the current 60 in preparation for the threat from Russia.
Anti Hakanen, Finland defense Minister, told AFP that the bill will take effect on Jan. 1 next year after the president's signature, on the 22nd local time. Minister Hakanen said the measure will increase the number of conscripts by 125,000 over the next five years and expand the reserve to about 1 million by 2031.
Hakanen emphasized, "These measures and other defense-strengthening steps show that Finland is ensuring security now and in the future."
Finland has about 900,000 reservists and a wartime order of battle of 280,000 troops. Finland imposes mandatory military service on men when they turn 18, with service lasting 6, 9 or 12 months depending on training. Women may serve voluntarily.
Sharing a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, Finland fought two wars and lost about 10% of its territory in the 1940s. As security fears grew after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Apr. 2023.