Xinhua
25 Mar 2023, 04:44 GMT+10
Marin's comments about the Hornets created confusion and elicited criticism in Finland as neither the president, nor the defense and foreign ministers were aware that Marin intended to open a discussion about donating Hornets.
HELSINKI, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Politicians in Finland are divided over the possibility of the country donating Hornet fighter jets to Ukraine as per Kyiv's request.
The controversy started when Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin visited Ukraine in early March and said that her government may be open to donating Hornets to the country.
Finland purchased Hornet fighter jets from the United States in the mid-1990s. By 2030, they will be replaced with U.S.-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters, the first of which will arrive in the country in 2026.
Marin's comments about the Hornets created confusion and elicited criticism in Finland as neither the president, nor the defense and foreign ministers were aware that Marin intended to open a discussion about donating Hornets. According to public information, the matter had not been discussed before.
The debate became heated this week. Finnish media reported on Thursday that Ukraine had approached the Defense Ministry and asked Finland to discuss the possibility of donating some of its Hornets.
Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen later confirmed these reports. According to him, Ukraine hoped that the United States would also participate in the discussion about the Hornets.
However, Finland's defense forces did not consider this a realistic scenario.
On Thursday, Kaikkonen said that Finland would need Hornet fighters for its own defense in the next few years. He added that by the time his country receives new fighter jets at the end of this decade, the Hornets will have reached the end of their service life.
Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Thursday that the Hornets would not have much to offer after they reach the end of their service life.
Esa Rautalinko, chief executive officer (CEO) of Finnish defense company Patria and chairman of the board of the Association of Finnish Defense and Aerospace Industries, told national broadcaster Yle on Friday that he believed that Finland's Hornet fighters will still be usable when they are retired from service in the country, but he didn't think that handing over the jets would necessarily be effective.
The first new F-35 fighters will arrive in Finland only in 2026, and the last ones in 2030. Until then, Finland needs the Hornets itself. Besides, handing over the jets to another country would also necessitate, among other things, the provision of training and updating the equipment, he said.
Marin did not rule out handing over some Hornets even before the new replacement fighters arrive in Finland. This question needs to be carefully reviewed, Marin told reporters on Thursday on the sidelines of the European Union summit in Brussels.
Previously, Marin had told journalists that no one had promised Hornet fighters to Ukraine. "Finland has not offered a policy about the matter, but I see that we have the ability and opportunity to have this discussion," she said.
The United States has not been willing to hand over fighter jets to Ukraine, and in Finland, only the prime minister has spoken about the possible donation of Hornets to Ukraine, the Finnish daily Ilta-Sanomat said.
According to the paper, the Chair of the Finnish Parliament's Defense Committee Antti Hakkanen has asked the government for an explanation of how the issue of Hornets is progressing. "Marin is somehow on her own line," Hakkanen said, adding that the Hornet fighters are among Finland's most important weapons systems.
He said that Finland's government should quickly clarify its stance on the issue.
Get a daily dose of Europe Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Europe Sun.
More InformationKAOHSIUNG, Taiwan: In a significant milestone for its defense capabilities, Taiwan has unveiled its first domestically developed submarine. Although it ...
HONIARA, Solomon Islands: Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare revealed that he opted out of a Pacific Islands leaders' summit at the ...
SACRAMENTO, California: Intending to raise some US$160 million per year to help prevent gun violence, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed ...
MANILA, The Philippines: The Philippines remains steadfast in its resolve not to yield to Chinese efforts to obstruct its fishermen ...
VICTORIA, Texas: This week, U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton in Victoria, Texas, ruled that President Joe Biden did not have ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is investigating a JetBlue flight on Monday that experienced sudden ...
BEIJING, China: This week, China Evergrande Group said its founder and chairman, Hui Ka Yan, is being investigated over suspected ...
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California: In his opening statement this week in the first U.S. trial over allegations that a car autopilot ...
SEATTLE, Washington: As part of Washington's efforts to stop Big Tech from monopolizing the most lucrative parts of the internet, ...
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: As part of Riyadh's efforts to further Saudi Arabia's electrification drive, electric vehicle (EV) maker Lucid announced ...
NEW YORK, New York - Stock prices were punctured Friday bringing to an end the 'flash in the pan' rally ...
WASHINGTON D.C. Due to internal brake fluid leaks that can cause an electrical short and could lead to engine fires, ...