The headquarters of the North Atlantic Alliance ground forces in the Nordic countries is being created in Mikkel, Finland. It is approximately 140 km from the Russian border.
The IltaLehti newspaper reported this with reference to sources on foreign and security policy on Tuesday, April 9. The information was also confirmed by Norwegian Defense Minister Bern Arild Gramm.
“The headquarters of NATO ground forces will be located in Finland. The commander of our defense forces recommended this,” Gramm emphasized.
Having all the armed forces at one headquarters would allow them to take advantage of all Scandinavian countries' membership in NATO, he said.
According to the newspaper, in peacetime the headquarters will plan and conduct NATO training activities in the region. The high-readiness headquarters will operate around the clock and will report to NATO headquarters in Norfolk on the east coast of the United States.
IltaLehti notes that "this issue is on the agenda for the NATO summit in Washington in July." Now the headquarters of the Finnish Army is located in Mikkeli.
Norway's position had a decisive effect.
"I look forward to being under the same command and part of the same regional defense plan. So the Nordic countries have a common deterrent and defense capability," Gramm says.
Nato sources say about 375 new officers from member countries are to be stationed in Norfolk so that the headquarters can manage ground force operations and be ready to take control of Sweden and Finland.
According to sources, the number of Finnish officers who will be sent to Norfolk is at least 25.
"The most important thing is that the headquarters in Norfolk is already built and staffed with enough people. All the Scandinavian countries and other NATO allies must make sure that Norfolk can take responsibility for the Scandinavian countries," Gramm emphasized.
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