Sweden to place 600 troops under NATO command in Finland

Sweden will place a contingent of around 600 troops under NATO command in Finland as part of efforts to strengthen the alliance’s forward land presence on its north-eastern flank, the Swedish Ministry of Defence said.

The deployment will consist of a battalion-sized battle group, which Stockholm said would form the core of NATO’s forward land forces being established in Finland.

Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson is due to attend a ceremony on June 6 at the Norrbotten Regiment base in Boden, marking the creation of these forward forces, according to an official statement.

Jonson said Sweden is committed to reinforcing NATO’s posture in the region. “The work is progressing rapidly, and I welcome the positive and close cooperation with Finland, NATO and our allies in this work,” he said.

The ministry noted that the initiative underscores deepening defence coordination between Sweden, Finland and NATO following Stockholm’s accession to the alliance.

Separately, the Chief of Staff of the Swedish Army is expected to lead a ceremony at the same base related to the establishment of a Finnish military aviation development fund.

By Tamilla Hasanova