“Defense starts with infrastructure, not weapons, even though we are currently talking more about weapons.” Speaking to infrastructure professionals at the INFRA Trade Fair, Nordic West Office CEO Charly Salonius-Pasternak emphasized the role of infrastructure in overall security in a world where the line between war and peace has blurred.
"The line between war and peace has been permanently blurred, and Western infrastructure is a target in times of conflict, even though no one has declared war. Therefore, optimizing normal conditions is no longer enough in infrastructure design, but the right starting point is to consider how the system works when it is actively disrupted," says Charly Salonius-Pasternak, researcher and CEO of the Nordic West Office.
Speaking to infrastructure experts and builders at the INFRA Trade Fair, Salonius-Pasternak pointed out that defense investments worth hundreds of billions of euros are currently being discussed in Europe, but without functioning infrastructure, their effectiveness will be lacking.
"If the roads and bridges can't carry tanks and the track gauges don't match, money has been wasted. The whole thing matters."
According to him, infrastructure that serves both civilian and defense use and overall security is the most cost-effective way to build resilience to disruptions – whether caused by humans or nature suffering from climate change.
As the EU directs CEF funding to dual-use infrastructure, Finland's moment is coming.
"Finland has decades of experience in comprehensive security planning and security of supply, as well as technical expertise in Arctic and digital infrastructure - and at the same time a clear need to build dual-use infrastructure - 1340 kilometers of border with Russia. Finnish politicians now have a direct obligation to act so that EU money is channeled to projects on the island of Finland."
Wise preparation is Nordic
At the same time as the INFRA Professional Days, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland, led by the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications, announced the first ever Nordic preparedness transport system strategy in Rovaniemi.
INFRA ry, which represents the infrastructure sector in the Finnish Construction Industry Federation, welcomes the strategy with joy.
“The strategy’s message is clear: good transport connections in the Nordic region and from there to the world are at the heart of the security of the entire EU and NATO area. Transport issues are now also being addressed at the right level: together with Nordic friends and in a multidisciplinary manner, recognizing the dual-use role of transport infrastructure,” CEO Paavo Syrjo ponders.
The Nordic approach helps to create confidence that, in the long term, Finland's special needs in the northeastern corner of Europe will also be understood by those in other European countries.
"For example, the rail connection proposed by the Finnish Industry Association from the Baltics to Finland and on to Sweden will not be realized solely as a Finnish effort. Although the goal is still far away, it is worth laying the foundation for it by actively opening international discussion connections," Syrjö sums up.
Access to Eastern and Northern Finland from EU corridors must be ensured
Looking ahead, Syrjö and Pasternak-Salonius believe it is important that the Nordic strategy proposes many concrete measures to improve overall security and military mobility. The goal of coordinating the Nordic countries' national transport system plans is particularly good.
"The corridors presented as EU priorities have the potential to improve Finland's accessibility, but it is also very important that we take care of our internal accessibility nationally. In support of the EU's Eastern Border Plan, the current endpoints of the corridors, in practice the ports of Western Finland and Haparanda, should have connections to Eastern and Northern Finland," Syrjö reminds.
"Infra alone does not make Finland a country worth defending, but the continuous effort to develop it has made national defense possible for us and improved our overall security. In the future, the Nordic countries will form an excellent, relevant and coherent infrastructure cooperation group for Finland," predicts Charly Salonius-Pasternak.
Even a black swan is a possibility
Destia's Chairman of the Board and Colas's Director of Northern Europe at INFRA's Professional Days Tero Kiviniemi also reported on the cooperation between the construction industry and the defense forces in emergency construction and on companies' preparations for the worst-case scenario.
“What is needed now is agility to respond to changes, including unexpected 'black swans',” he said, comparing the current situation to partial sleepwalking, which is developing into a deepening crisis in various areas.
Kiviniemi also emphasized the great importance of international networking when it comes to strengthening resilience: "From a companies' perspective, it also means new business opportunities, new innovations and product development."
The second INFRA Professional Days, organized by INFRA ry, will be held at Tampere Hall on 11–12 March 2026. Nearly 500 infrastructure professionals will gather at Tampere Hall. The next event will be in spring 2028.
Additional information
Paavo Syrjo, paavo.syrjo@infra.fi, +358 40 560 1803.
Charly Salonius-Pasternak, charly.salonius-pasternak@nordicwestoffice.com
Tero Kiviniemi, tero.kiviniemi@destia.fi, +358 40 519 0112