Finland is negotiating with several Nato countries about sending troops to Finland. Foreign Nato forces may be deployed in Finland even if the country does not face an actual military threat, Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) told Yle.
In May, a meeting of defence ministers approved the presence of Nato ground forces in Finland. According to recent reports, Norway and Sweden may station troops in Finnish Lapland.
According to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP), it is clear that the Nordic countries are the closest Nato partners for cooperative purposes. ”But it is also really important for us that the other Nato countries are committed and involved in the defence of Lapland and the entire Scandinavian region,” he said. […]
According to Häkkänen, Finland’s goal is that designated troops from various countries could come to Finland in crisis situations. That would not necessarily mean an actual military confrontation, he said.
Häkkänen said that a ”tense atmosphere at the border” could lead, for example, to additional large-scale exercises being launched together with allies. Such Nato ground forces would not remain in Finland permanently, but would commit to training here and, if necessary, maintaining a more permanent presence. Läs artikel