Sweden ready to lead Nato troops in Finland



Sweden ready to lead Nato troops in Finland

https://yle.fi/a/74-20111862?utm_source=social-media-share&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ylefiapp

by AirportCreep

11 comments
  1. **Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (both NCP) said they were pleased that Sweden will take responsibility for a multinational forward land force (FLF) in Finland.**

    *Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (both NCP) have welcomed news that Sweden is prepared to take leadership responsibility for future Nato peacetime ground forces in Finland.*

    *Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson, made the announcement during the two defence ministers’ joint press conference on Monday in Stockholm, where the Finnish and Swedish cabinets held a joint meeting.*

    *Häkkänen said he is pleased that Sweden will take responsibility for a planned multinational forward land force (FLF) in Finland.*

    *Orpo also hailed the decision during another press conference later on Monday.*

    “We are building the defense of the Nordic region. Nato structures are creating such a deterrent that no-one would even think of defying it,” the PM said.

    “The Swedish government has the ambition to take on a role as framework nation for forward land forces in Finland,” Jonson told reporters.*

    *According to Jonson, planning is in its early stages among Nato allies and must also be discussed in the Swedish Parliament. “I envisage that FLF Finland could be in place in one to two years,” he later told Reuters.*

    *Jonson said that Sweden is preparing to send staff officers and training troops.*

    *Häkkänen declined to comment on Swedish media reports that the Swedish officers would be stationed in northern Finland, or to speculate on the size of the troop contingent.*

    **Site of NATO land command unit to be announced soon.**

    *Nato is expected to announce soon where in Finland its new Northern European land command unit will be located. A few dozen officers from various countries are to work in the staff headquarters, which is to coordinate the defence of Nato’s Northern European allies. These include all of the Nordic and Baltic states.*

    *Finland has not disclosed the size of the forces to the public, but according to Yle has learned that the size of FLF would be between a few hundred and a few thousand troops, as in other countries. They would not necessarily be permanently stationed in Finland. The FLF is intended to act as a deterrent and to repel a possible attack.*

    *Finland has not said which countries have been asked to contribute troops. According to Gen. Janne Jaakkola, the commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, a good frame of reference would be other allies that are under Nato’s Norfolk Joint Operations Command.*

    *According to Nato, it was established in 2019 due the resurgence of Russian activity in the Atlantic and the Arctic.*

    *Finland’s current Army Command is based in the eastern city of Mikkeli. According to Yle sources, Mikkeli is also a strong candidate for Nato’s staff, but a decision has not yet been made. The Ministry of Defence is to announce the location within the next few weeks.*

  2. Well,this bring back some memories.The antagonist hasn’t changed since the old time’s,for the Swedish at least

  3. I know what they mean, but at first glance it really sounds like this headline is Sweden saying they’ll invade Finland is nato has got their back on this

  4. As Finnish say – king of Sweden is brave, he fights till the very last Finn.

    And TBH, Finns do not need to be lead imo. They are capable enough

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