Multinational NATO forces to be deployed in Finland

18 February, 2025 A Finnish soldier. Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi Finland has decided to deploy NATO's forward-based FLF military units in Lapland.

The Finnish publication Yle reported that the FLF (Forward Land Forces) troops are already studying the conditions in Lapland. "The FLF troops will be deployed in Rovaniemi and Sodankyla (Northern Finland, Lapland)," the country's Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen stated earlier. Hakkanen stated that last week he made an administrative decision on this issue and has now informed NATO allies.

The deployment of the FLF troops will be organized in garrisons in the same way as for other military units that have trained in Finland before. Sodankyla and Rovaniemi are home to the Finnish Defense Forces' Ranger Brigade, which is the northernmost unit of the Finnish Defense Forces specializing in Arctic training and air defense. In September, it was reported that the number of FLF (Forward Land Forces) troops that would be stationed in Finland from time to time would be about a thousand soldiers.

Under extraordinary circumstances, by NATO's decision, the number can be increased to several thousand. In a crisis situation, they will begin to defend NATO's eastern border in Finland. It was also reported that Finland will host two NATO headquarters: the headquarters of the Northern European Army and the headquarters of the Forward Operating Forces.

Photo from open sources.

According to Hakkanen, the training of the FLF troops is progressing quite well.

"The same can be said for the NATO ground forces headquarters, which will be located in Finland," he added.

Security measures are currently being tightened in Finland because of Russian spies who have become more active during the deployment of NATO troops.