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 drive operations in northern Europe within the occasion of a army battle, the Finnish defence minister stated 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 along with the Military Headquarters in Mikkeli,” stated the minister, Antti Hakkanen, following up on his June announcement that every one NATO member states had given their political consent for the plan.
The centre, which NATO calls Multi Corps Land Element Command, will function underneath the alliance’s US-based Norfolk Joint Power Command and collectively with Finland’s personal land drive command that’s already situated in Mikkeli, about two hour’s drive from the Finnish-Russian border.
Hakkanen, talking at a information convention, stated the unit would initially have an annual price range of €8.5 million (US$9.5 million) and consist of some dozen worldwide officers.
