Sweden will lead NATO troops in northern Finland

Russia’s all-out war on Ukraine made the Nordic united in NATO as Finland joint the alliance in 2023 and Sweden this year. Northern regions are core for defense as Russia’s Northern Fleet continues to rearm the Kola Peninsula and Leningrad military district aims at establishing new brigades in Karelia, the region bordering Finland.

On September 16, the prime ministers and defense ministers of Sweden and Finland met in Stockholm. Security was a main topic. 

Sweden said it is ready to lead NATO’s forward presence to be established in Finland. Although it is yet to be decided where the headquarters is to be located, Lapland is believed to host the new structure. 

It is not aimed at bring permanent NATO troops to northern Finland, but will be staffed with command officers preparing for troop deployment in case of war. 

“This is a major new step in the defence relationship between our countries. Finland and Sweden are now allies. Together, we make NATO stronger and make a strong contribution to the development of NATO’s collective deterrence and defence,” said defense minister Antti Häkkänen. 

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Finnish Government recently decided on an additional appropriation of EUR 67 million for needs arising from NATO membership. 

In a joint declaration, the two countries underlines the need to secure transport communication in the northern regions between Norway, Sweden and Finland in order to cover the needs for supplies, trade and security. While Norway is not a member, Sweden and Finland will work to promote military mobility within the European Union. 

The declaration makes clear that interregional EU funding will be used to improve east-west communication. The port of Narvik on the coast to the Norwegian Sea attracts special importance. From here, Europe’s northernmost cross-border railway connects with Kiruna, Luleå and Happaranda in northern Sweden, from where goods can be shipped further into northern Finland via the reopened railway to Tornio. 

While the Council of the Baltic Sea States cooperation is highlighted with its own sub-chapter in the joint declaration, the Barents cooperation is not mentioned with a single word. Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen this summer more than hinted a final end to the Barents Cooperation, a multilateral structure aimed to assist Russia’s northern regions integrate in international contacts.