Finland’s Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen: NATO Forward Land Forces Multinational Staff Element to be established in Rovaniemi

Explaining the decision, Häkkänen stated, “Earlier we succeeded in securing the support of our Allies for our approach to FLF Finland. The implementation of that model has progressed well. The MNSE will form FLF Finland’s permanent presence in Northern Finland. The focus of FLF Finland’s battlegroup activities will be in Northern Finland and, largely supported by Rovaniemi and Sodankylä. Considering the synergies and the ability to support the activities, Rovaniemi is the best location for a permanent FLF Staff Element in Finland.”

The structure of the Multinational Staff Element will develop in the coming years, with around half of its activities planned to be carried out by the framework nation and the host nation, and the other half by contributing Allies. According to Häkkänen, “The peacetime strength of the MNSE will reach the same level as the Multi Corps Land Component Command in Mikkeli. This is a step towards strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence in the High North and the Arctic region. The MNSE should eventually have a few dozen employees. Together with the Allies contributing to FLF Finland, we are enhancing readiness across the Alliance and building even better interoperability.”

The Forward Land Forces form part of NATO’s peacetime activities and, under normal conditions, train and exercise together with national home defence forces. Finland will permanently host the Multinational Staff Element, while troops will be present for exercises and as required by the security situation, with the possibility of scaling up the presence to brigade size if conditions change.

Sweden will serve as the framework nation for the Forward Land Forces in Finland, with the United Kingdom, France and the Nordic countries Denmark, Norway and Iceland also announcing their participation. The Forward Land Forces are included in NATO’s operational planning, and Allies will also exercise their ability to reinforce land forces during peacetime.