Finland declares establishment of NATO outpost close to Russian frontier
Finland has declared the setup of a NATO command assistance facility in Mikkeli, situated about 200 kilometers from Russia's border. Around 18 months following Finland's admission into NATO, this action serves as a "signal to Russia that we are a bona fide NATO member and that NATO holds significant importance for Finland's defense," stated Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen on Friday.
As per the plan, the upcoming NATO Land Forces North Europe headquarters is scheduled to be established in Mikkeli, with numerous personnel from different nations assigned there. Häkkänen highlighted that the Finnish Army Command is currently stationed in Mikkeli itself. "By positioning the locations side by side, we attain the most optimal collaboration between Finnish and NATO defense operations management," he further explained.
In June, NATO defense chiefs also endorsed the deployment of rotating Forward Land Forces (FLF), focusing on safeguarding the eastern front, to Finland. The exact timeline for this deployment will be disclosed at a later juncture, Häkkänen revealed.
Historically impartial Finland joined NATO in April 2023, a shift prompted by Russia's conflict against Ukraine.
The establishment of the NATO Land Forces North Europe headquarters in Mikkeli signifies a stronger alliance between Finland and NATO. This move, along with the potential deployment of NATO's Forward Land Forces, underscores Finland's commitment to enhancing its defense capabilities as a bona fide NATO member.
