NATO ground forces launched operations in Finland and Sweden today to strengthen security in the Far North, in response to Russian military activity and China’s growing interest in the region, the Alliance said.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the two Nordic countries abandoned decades of military non-alignment to become members of the Alliance. Finland joined the Alliance in 2023 and Sweden in 2024. The operations aim to support the defense of NATO’s north-eastern flank. “This region is one of the most strategically important areas,” with one of the most challenging environments in the world, said US General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
The new forces operating in the Arctic
The creation of NATO’s Advanced Operational Ground Forces in Finland includes the deployment of a Swedish battalion in Boden, Sweden, and a multinational staff in Rovaniemi, Finland. The decision to create these forces was taken in 2024 by NATO heads of state and government at the Washington Summit. Their deployment was completed in less than two years, the Atlantic Alliance points out.
The Arctic Sentinel mission
NATO’s Advanced Operational Ground Forces in Finland, together with another mission called Arctic Sentinel, aim to defend the Alliance’s territory and “ensure the security of the Arctic and the High North, particularly in light of Russian military activity and China’s growing interest in the region”, according to Alexus Grynkewich.