NATO’s New Northern Land Command Inaugurated in Finland
The Finnish Minister of Defense, Antti Häkkänen (National Coalition Party), delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command Northwest in Mikkeli, Finland. (Photo: the Finnish Ministry of Defense)
On Friday, NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command Northwest officially opened in Mikkeli, Finland. "The MCLCC-NW will strengthen NATO’s defense in the High North and increase security in Finland," says the Finnish Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen.
Last Friday, the new NATO Multi-Corps Land Component Command in the alliance's northwest region (MCLCC-NW) was inaugurated with flag hoisting and speeches.
"This is a historic day for Finland, NATO, and Mikkeli," stated the Finnish Minister of Defense, Antti Häkkänen, during the opening ceremony.
"We set out to seek the establishment of a NATO command in Finland in autumn 2023 to maximise Finland’s security. Our objectives were approved at the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defencse in June 2024. Now, a year later, we are already launching the command," said Häkkänen and continued:
"Having the Multi-Corps Land Component Command North in Finland is a demonstration of our expertise and a show of trust in Finland. The MCLCC-NW will strengthen NATO’s defense in the High North and increase security in Finland."
Operational
The new regional NATO land command is co-located with the Finnish Army Command in Mikkeli, Southeastern Finland.
It became operational on September 1st and now holds 10 staff members from various allied countries, including Finland. The aim is for the staff to increase to about 50 people in peacetime.
The MCLCC-NW is to plan, prepare, and command the activities of NATO's land forces in Northern Europe and is organized under the Joint Force Command Norfolk in the USA, NATO's newest joint operational headquarters.
Under normal conditions, the MCLCC-NW will be responsible for allied exercises and other peacetime activities. In a state of emergency, the it will plan, command and control land operations and defense in the High North.
"We have an important task ahead of us. As a response to the dangerous state of the international security situation we are now renewing and strengthening NATO with unprecedented strength. The MCLCC-NW is tasked with bolstering NATO’s defense in the High North so that we will be able to guarantee the security of our region for years to come,” Häkkänen said.
Forward land force in progress
Finland has also received support from the allied defense ministers for the establishment of a NATO Forward Land Force (FLF) in the High North.
The FLF be located in Rovaniemi and Sodankylä, Northern Finland, and will be led by Sweden with contributions from France, the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. The specific design of this force is still at the planning stage.
