On Tuesday 7 January 2020, the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the tense situation in Iraq, Iran and the Middle East, informed the Government Communications department.
The situation in the region has worsened since last Friday, when US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The Government of Iran has promised to take revenge and the Iranian Parliament has responded by calling the United States military "terrorist."
The Finnish President and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy stated that all parties should avoid violence and actions that could lead to further escalation of the situation. The international community, especially the EU, must act to ease the situation.
The President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the effects of the escalating situation on Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), an operation of the International Coalition against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, in which Finland participates.
In addition, Finland participates in the civilian crisis management operation EU Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) and has one person working on the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) operation.
