Finland’s government, a NATO member country, wants to increase the age of its age of 65, said today, which would add 125,000 troops to its defense forces and raised the number of landlords by 20 million.

Military service is mandatory for men in Finland. Women may request to serve a military service on a voluntary basis. The Finns can currently serve in the army by the age of 60, but the government has submitted a draft law for debate that provides for an increase in age.

“Finland’s defensive ability is based on general recruitment, a trained reserve and a strong will to defend the country,” Defense Minister Andy Hakanen said in a statement. “By increasing the maximum age of the reserves, we give more people the opportunity to participate in national defense,” he said.

“A stronger body of reserves will enhance Finland’s security,” the minister added.

The number of army’s reserves in Finland now amounts to 870,000 troops and the increase in age limits will result in its number being about 1 million in 2031.

These announcements took place on the backdrop of tensions with neighboring Russia and two years after Finland’s accession to NATO in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Finland is sharing a border of 1,340 kilometers with Russia. She closed her borders with Russia in December 2023, with suspicion that Moscow orchestrates the arrival of immigrants to destabilize it.