Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen: NATO’s Forward Land Forces Multinational Staff Element to be established in Rovaniemi

Finland's Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has chosen Rovaniemi as the location for NATO’s Forward Land Forces (FLF) Multinational Staff Element (MNSE).

“Earlier we succeeded in securing the support of our Allies for our approach to FLF Finland. The implementation of that model has progressed well. The MNSE will form FLF Finland’s permanent presence in Northern Finland. The focus of FLF Finland’s battlegroup activities will be in Northern Finland and, largely supported by Rovaniemi and Sodankylä. Considering the synergies and the ability to support the activities, Rovaniemi is the best location for a permanent FLF Staff Element in Finland,” says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The structure of the MNSE will evolve in the coming years. The plan is to have about half of its activities carried out by the framework nation and the host nation and the other half by the contributing Allies. 

“The peacetime strength of the MNSE will reach the same level as the Multi Corps Land Component Command in Mikkeli. This is a step towards strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence in the High North and the Artic region. The MNSE should eventually have a few dozen employees. Together with the Allies contributing to FLF Finland, we are enhancing readiness across the Alliance and building even better interoperability,” says Minister Häkkänen.

The Forward Land Forces form a part of NATO’s peacetime activities. Under normal conditions, they train and exercise together with national home defence forces. Finland will permanently host the FLF’s Multinational Staff Element. Troops will be present in Finland for exercises and as required by the security situation. The FLF are part of NATO’s operations planning. Should the security situation change, the FLF presence could be scaled up to brigade size. Allies also exercise their ability to increase the land forces in peacetime.

Sweden as the framework nation, the United Kingdom, France and the Nordic countries Denmark, Norway and Iceland have announced their participation in NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland.

Inquiries: Samuli Puhakka, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 089. Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 41 544 4967.