Finland Raises Maximum Age for Army Reservists

Finland has announced plans to raise the maximum age limit for members of its military reserve, a move aimed at strengthening national defense readiness in the face of potential security threats.

The Finnish government said on Monday that, starting in 2026, the upper age limit for army reservists will increase from 60 to 65. The reform is expected to come into force on 1 January next year, pending formal approval by the president.

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said the change would significantly expand the country’s pool of trained personnel, adding around 125,000 reservists over the next five years.

In a statement, Häkkänen explained that the total number of reservists in Finland is projected to rise to nearly one million by 2031, up from about 900,000 at present. He described the measure as part of a broader strategy to reinforce Finland’s defense capabilities and long-term security.

“This step, together with other measures we are taking to strengthen our defense, shows that Finland is taking responsibility for its own security, both now and in the future,” Häkkänen said.

The decision comes against the backdrop of Finland’s significant shift in defense policy in recent years. After decades of military non-alignment, the Nordic country joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in April 2023, a little over a year after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.

Raising the reservist age limit is widely seen as a reflection of heightened security concerns in northern Europe and Finland’s determination to maintain a strong and credible defense posture as a NATO member.