The Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) that was signed in Washington DC on the 18th of December will significantly deepen bilateral cooperation between Finland and the USA. […]
The far northern Lapland region is key priority area highlighted in the agreement. Five of the 15 bases, training and storage areas included in the deal are located in Lapland. Among them is Rovajärvi, the largest military training area in Western Europe. Rovajärvi stretches over a 1,070 square kilometres area and is used for large-scale military exercises where up to 3,500 people can participate.
Included is also the Lapland Air Command Air Base and Jaeger Brigade Garrison in Rovaniemi. The Air Command is one of Finland’s two bases for F-18 fighter jets. It will in few years house also parts of Finland’s new F-35 aircraft. […]
Ivalo is connected by road to the Russian Murmansk region and houses the Raja-Jooseppi cross-border point. On the Russian side of the border is located the 80th Motorised Rifle Brigade in Alakurtti, also called the Russian Arctic Brigade.
The northernmost site mentioned is the Border Guard Base in Ivalo, the small town located only about 50 kilometres from the border to Russia.
Ivalo is connected by road to the Russian Murmansk region and houses the Raja-Jooseppi cross-border point. On the Russian side of the border is located the 80th Motorised Rifle Brigade in Alakurtti, also called the Russian Arctic Brigade.
The Finnish-US agreement comes only few days after a similar agreement between Sweden and the US. Also in that agreement, far northern bases are given a high level of priority.
Unlike neighbouring Norway, Finland does not appear to limit military allied cooperation with any self-imposed restrictions. In a bid not to provoke the Soviet Union, Norway during the Cold War introduced limitations on allied military activity in its East-Finnmark region.
Although increasingly an issue of discussion, NATO allies and partners are still not allowed to take part in exercises in the East Finnmark region and also not fly military aircraft over Norwegian air space east of the Porsanger Fjord. East of the Tana Fjord, non-Norwegian fighter jets are not allowed. Läs artikel