Government report on Finland's contribution to NATO's collective peacetime missions submitted to Parliament
In its plenary session on 24 October 2024, the Finnish Government endorsed a report on the Finnish Defence Forces' participation in NATO's collective peacetime missions in 2025. The report was also submitted to Parliament.
Finland intends to contribute to NATO's collective peacetime missions by deploying a Hamina class vessel with a crew of up to 40 persons to the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the North Atlantic for a maximum of one month in 2025. The Finnish Defence Forces is to deploy a Katanpää class vessel with a crew of up to 40 persons to the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the North Atlantic for a maximum of three months in 2025. In addition, Finland intends to contribute to NATO's Air Policing mission in Iceland. The Finnish Defence Forces is to deploy a detachment of up to two combat aircraft and three spare aircraft and a maximum of 50 persons to the Northeast Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean for three weeks in February-March 2025.
NATO's key collective peacetime missions include the Forward Land Forces (FLF), two Standing NATO Maritime Groups (SNMG), two Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups (SNMCMG) and Air Policing and Air Shielding missions. By maintaining these functions in peacetime, NATO demonstrates readiness and defence capability. Nearly all NATO member states participate in collective peacetime missions either through permanent contributions or through regular rotations. In 2024, Finland contributed to NATO's collective peacetime missions by participating in the tasks of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea and by joining the Air Shielding missions in Romania, Bulgaria and the Black Sea.
"Our active participation in NATO's collective peacetime missions signals the unity of the Alliance and shows our readiness and defence capability. It is one way Finland supports NATO's efforts to strengthen our security environment and a concrete demonstration of our commitment and responsibility to NATO's deterrence and defence throughout the territory of the Alliance, based on a 360-degree approach," says Minister Häkkänen.
Inquiries: Janne Kuusela, Director General, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 300. Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 41 544 4967.