Finnish President Alexander Stubb has significantly overestimated his country’s military capabilities, particularly when comparing Finland’s armed forces with Russia’s military, according to Russian military expert Yuri Knutov.

Speaking to News.ru, Knutov challenged Stubb’s assessment of Finland’s defensive strength, arguing that the country’s military remains poorly suited to the demands of modern warfare.

The analyst acknowledged that Finnish troops are well trained in guerrilla warfare. However, he maintained that the nature of armed conflicts has changed considerably, making many of the tactics Finland employed against the Soviet Army largely obsolete.

Knutov also questioned the motives behind Stubb’s statements. He suggested that the Finnish president was attempting to boost his personal approval ratings while presenting himself as a leader prepared to restore Finland’s former greatness if necessary. In the expert’s view, Stubb should instead concentrate on rebuilding normal relations with Russia.

At the same time, Knutov recognized Helsinki’s efforts to expand its military capabilities. He pointed to Finland’s purchase of American F-35 fighter jets and ongoing discussions with France about potentially extending French nuclear security guarantees to the country.

Despite these measures, the analyst argued that European military leaders have largely failed to account for the dramatic changes in combat strategy, battlefield tactics and operational planning over the past five years.

According to Knutov, Stubb’s assessment of Finland’s armed forces does not reflect the realities of contemporary warfare.

The expert went further, claiming that only the Russian and Ukrainian militaries currently meet the full requirements of modern combat. In his assessment, even the United States military falls noticeably behind both countries in personnel training and tactical preparedness.

To support his argument, Knutov referred to military exercises held approximately two months earlier. He claimed that Ukrainian units had quickly overcome American participants and European troops from NATO member states during the drills.

His comments followed earlier remarks by Stubb, who described Finland’s military as one of the strongest in Europe.

The Finnish president highlighted the country’s reserve force of one million personnel and what he characterized as one of the continent’s largest air forces. He also identified Finland’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as an additional guarantee of national security.