NATO land forces staff to be based in Rovaniemi

Finland will establish NATO’s Forward Land Forces Multinational Staff Element in Rovaniemi, Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen announced on Monday

The unit will form a permanent NATO presence in northern Finland. Its activities will centre on Rovaniemi and Sodankylä.

Häkkänen said Rovaniemi offers the best conditions for the new headquarters. “Rovaniemi is the best location for a permanent FLF Staff Element in Finland,” he said in a statement.

He cited operational synergies and support structures in the region.

The battlegroup linked to Forward Land Forces Finland will operate largely in northern Finland. Sodankylä hosts the Jaeger Brigade garrison.

The Rovajärvi training area, located between Rovaniemi and Kemijärvi, serves as a key exercise site.

The Multinational Staff Element will develop in stages over the coming years. About half of the posts will be filled by personnel from the framework nation Sweden and the host nation Finland. The remaining posts will go to other contributing allies.

In peacetime, staffing levels will match those of NATO’s Multi Corps Land Component Command in Mikkeli. The headquarters in Rovaniemi is expected to employ several dozen personnel once it reaches full strength.

“This is a step towards strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence in the High North and the Arctic region,” Häkkänen said.

“Together with the Allies contributing to FLF Finland, we are enhancing readiness across the Alliance and building better interoperability,” he added.

Forward Land Forces form part of NATO’s peacetime posture. Under normal conditions, units train and exercise alongside Finland’s national forces.

Finland will host the Multinational Staff Element on a permanent basis. Troops from allied countries will deploy to Finland for exercises and in response to the security situation.

The forces are integrated into NATO’s operational planning. If required, the presence in Finland can expand to brigade level.

Allies will also rehearse the rapid reinforcement of land forces during peacetime exercises.

Sweden acts as the framework nation for Forward Land Forces in Finland. The United Kingdom, France, Italy, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have announced their participation.

Häkkänen said preparations have advanced in line with Finland’s model for hosting the forces.

HT