Defense Minister: NATO forces may hold exercises in Finland if “border atmosphere becomes tense”

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Defense Minister Antti Hakanen (NCP) said a decision on the location of NATO’s new land command in Finland will be made this autumn.

A man wearing a light grey suit jacket and open-necked white shirt stands in the square talking to someone, with trees and red brick buildings behind him. — Defense Minister Antti Hakanen (NCP) makes a public appearance in Rovaniemi, Finnish Lapland, on Tuesday. Photo: Antti Mikkola / Yle

21.8. 17:48renew 21.8. 18:46

Finland is in talks with several NATO countries about sending troops to Finland. The defense minister said foreign NATO troops could be deployed to Finland even if Finland does not face an actual military threat. Antti Hakanen (NCP) told Yle.

In May, the Defense Ministers’ Meeting approved the deployment of NATO ground forces to Finland. According to recent reports, Norway and Sweden may station troops in the Finnish Lapland region.

According to the Prime Minister Petri Orpo (NCP) Clearly, the Nordic countries are NATO’s closest partners.

“But it is also very important for us that other NATO countries are committed and involved in the defense of Lapland and the entire Scandinavia region,” he said.

The prime minister and the defense minister discussed the topic at the National Coalition Party’s ministerial summer meeting in Rovaniemi on Tuesday.

Sending troops to Finland in times of crisis

Hakanen said Finland’s goal was to have designated forces from various countries available to Finland in the event of a crisis. He said this did not necessarily mean an actual military confrontation.

Hakanen said “border tensions” could lead to more large-scale exercises with allies. NATO ground forces will not be permanently stationed in Finland, but are committed to training here and maintaining a longer presence if necessary.

“We are still negotiating on how big the deployment will be, but it must be comprehensive enough to have an adequate presence in a crisis situation,” he said, adding that “there must be facilities and buildings in Finland where these troops can be stationed for a longer period of time.”

According to Hakanen, the next follow-up meeting on the topic will be held at the Defense Ministers’ Meeting in February. Before then, NATO will announce where in Finland its Nordic Land Operations Command Center will be located.

Hakanen said the location will have good transport links and a sound infrastructure for the command to use.

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