HELSINKI: NATO will arrange a brand new land command in Finland close to the Russian border subsequent yr, tasked with main the alliance’s land power operations in northern Europe within the occasion of a army battle, the Finnish defence minister mentioned on Friday (Sep 27).
Finland joined the NATO alliance final yr, in response to neighbouring Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that started in 2022, and is organising the alliance’s presence on its territory.
“This morning, I’ve determined that we are going to suggest to NATO to ascertain the command at the side of the Military Headquarters in Mikkeli,” mentioned the minister, Antti Hakkanen, following up on his June announcement that each one NATO member states had given their political consent for the plan.
The centre, which NATO calls Multi Corps Land Part Command, will function below the alliance’s US-based Norfolk Joint Drive Command and collectively with Finland’s personal land power command that’s already positioned in Mikkeli, about two hour’s drive from the Finnish-Russian border.
Hakkanen, talking at a information convention, mentioned the unit would initially have an annual finances of €8.5 million (US$9.5 million) and consist of some dozen worldwide officers.
