Sweden Should Lead Strengthening NATO Presence in Finland, Agree Nordic Neighbors—Reuters

By Niklas Pollard

STOCKHOLM – The Finnish government has expressed support for Sweden to take the lead in establishing NATO land forces in Finland, a move aimed at enhancing defenses against Russia, according to a joint statement from the two Nordic countries on Monday.

Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted a significant shift in the previously militarily non-aligned positions of Finland and Sweden, which subsequently joined NATO in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

NATO has increased its presence in Eastern Europe by forming multinational battlegroups that span from the Baltics to the Black Sea, and plans to establish a presence in Finland, which shares a lengthy border of 1,340 km with Russia.

“The Swedish government aims to assume the role of framework nation for forward land forces in Finland,” stated Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson at a joint press conference with Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen in Stockholm.

The ministers noted that the initiative is still in its early stages, with the selection of a nation to spearhead the creation of “forward land forces” (FLF) to be concluded collectively by NATO.

“I anticipate that FLF Finland could be operational within one to two years,” Jonson mentioned during a discussion with reporters after the conference.

Further decisions regarding the size and composition of NATO’s presence in Finland are yet to be made. Finland’s defence minister clarified that the nation was not seeking a permanent multinational force comparable to those in the Baltic states, given the considerable strength of its own military.

“However, if the security situation deteriorates or similar circumstances arise, we can increase joint exercises with specific allied forces,” Hakkanen remarked.

The two neighboring countries are working to enhance military cross-border mobility by addressing and eliminating various technical, administrative, and legal barriers, according to Jonson.

“This effort also involves improvements to infrastructure, including roads and railways,” he added.