Finland in talks to host NATO troops in Lapland to strengthen northern defense

By YLE News, The Independent Barents Observer August 27, 2024
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Finland is negotiating with several Nato countries about sending troops to Finland. Foreign Nato forces may be deployed in Finland even if the country does not face an actual military threat, Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) told Yle.

U.S. airborne troops brought military terrain vehicles to the exercise Ryske, taking place between Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi. Later, troops from Nordic countries could be based in Lapland for longer periods. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
In May, a meeting of defence ministers approved the presence of Nato ground forces in Finland. According to recent reports, Norway and Sweden may station troops in Finnish Lapland.

According to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), it is clear that the Nordic countries are the closest Nato partners for cooperative purposes.

“But it is also really important for us that the other Nato countries are committed and involved in the defence of Lapland and the entire Scandinavian region,” he said.

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

In crisis situations

According to Häkkänen, Finland’s goal is that designated troops from various countries could come to Finland in crisis situations. That would not necessarily mean an actual military confrontation, he said.

Häkkänen said that a “tense atmosphere at the border” could lead, for example, to additional large-scale exercises being launched together with allies. Such Nato ground forces would not remain in Finland permanently, but would commit to training here and, if necessary, maintaining a more permanent presence.

Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen.  Photo: Finnish Defense Ministry

“We are still negotiating on how big such a troop deployment would be, but it must be comprehensive and large enough to form a sufficient presence in crisis situations,” he said, adding that it is “essential that there are facilities and structures to house these forces in Finland for a longer period of time.”

According to Häkkänen, the next follow-up meeting on the topic will be at the defence ministers’ meeting in February. Before that, Nato is to announce where in Finland its command centre for land warfare in Northern Europe will be located.

Häkkänen said it would be a location with good transport connections and ready infrastructure for use by the command.

 

Finnish armoured vehicle and Norwegian soldiers training together at Rovanjarga training ground near Kemijärvi, northern Finland. Photo: Thomas Nilsen

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