Hundreds of US troops to join Finland’s main autumn exercise

Nylands Brigade in Dragsvik will host one of its largest-ever foreign deployments this autumn, as between 400 and 500 American soldiers are expected to arrive for joint training.

The Finnish Defence Forces’ General Staff and Nylands Brigade confirmed the forthcoming deployment but have not disclosed an exact figure, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“About 400 soldiers have been mentioned,” said brigade spokesperson Hanna Tallberg.

The troops will be in Finland from October to December, with their main objective being participation in the Defence Forces’ principal military exercise in November.

They will also conduct training at other locations, including Syndalen in Hanko.

The scale of the deployment has prompted logistical planning to determine whether all soldiers can be accommodated at Nylands Brigade.

“Much depends on the type of units arriving and the final headcount,” Tallberg explained.

This will be the fourth consecutive year American forces have trained at Nylands Brigade. The numbers have increased significantly since the first visit in 2022, when 150 troops participated. The following year saw 250, and last year around 200.

The expanded U.S. presence reflects Finland’s growing defence ties with Washington under the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), approved in 2024 after Finland joined NATO.

The accord grants the United States access to 15 Finnish bases and training areas – including Nylands Brigade and Syndalen – and permits the storage of weapons and ammunition in the country.

Under the agreement, U.S. troops in Finland generally fall under American jurisdiction. Similar arrangements exist between the United States and several other NATO allies.

By Aghakazim Guliyev