Finland has announced it will close its embassies in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar in 2026, citing operational and strategic reasons. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs stated the decision is linked to political developments in these countries and limited commercial and economic ties with Finland.
“The embassies will be closed for operational and strategic reasons, which are linked to changes in the countries’ political situation and their limited commercial and economic relations with Finland,” the ministry said.
Preparations for the closures have already begun, and the missions are expected to shut down over the course of next year.
This decision forms part of Finland’s broader “strategic review” of its global diplomatic network, aiming to focus resources on countries of strategic importance and strengthen the nation’s foreign and security policy interests. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen emphasized that the move is designed to help Finland build a more competitive and efficient diplomatic presence worldwide.
Finland previously closed its embassy in Islamabad in 2012 due to budget constraints but reopened it in 2022. Security and operational concerns have also led other Nordic countries, like Sweden, to limit their presence in Pakistan in recent years.