Norwegian MoD: Norway Will Participate in Forward Land Forces in Northern Finland
Group photo during the NATO summit in The Hague with the defense ministers from Sweden, Denmark, France, Finland, the United Kingdom and Norway. (Photo: the Swedish Ministry of Defense)
Norway will participate in the NATO Forward Land Forces Finland, says Norwegian Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik. The enhanced forward presence in Finland will be the first of its kind in the Nordic region.
The Norwegian Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik (Labor), says Norway will participate in the NATO Forward Land Forces Finland. The enhanced forward presence will be placed in Rovaniemi and Sodankylä in Northern Finland.
NATO has previously established a forward presence in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary to deter and, if necessary, defend the alliance's eastern flank.
"A forward presence in Finland will contribute to making Norway, the Nordic region, and NATO safer at a turbulent time. It is important for Norway to participate in the development of this together with our Nordic neighbors and allies," said Sandvik, who announced the news during the NATO summit in the Hague on Wednesday."
Sweden is leading the establishment of the forward allied presence in Finland. Norway will initially participate in the planning group at a military level, reads a press release.
The forward allied presence in Finland will be the first of its kind in the Nordic region, according to the release.
In addition to Norway, Denmark, France, Iceland, and the UK will participate in the development of the land force.
High North News has previously interviewed the strategy chief in the Finnish Armed Forces, including on the establishment of FLF Finland. Read the article here.
