Chief of Staff of the Italian Army visited Finland

The Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello carried out a visit to Finland during 2–4 September 2025, hosted by Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki. The objective of the visit was to deepen co-operation between the Finnish and Italian Armies as well as to familiarise Lieutenant General Masiello with activity of the Finnish Army.

During the course of his visit, Lieutenant General Masiello visited the Defence Command, Guard Jaeger Regiment, Utti Jaeger Regiment, and South-Eastern Finland Border Guard District. As part of the programme Lieutenant General Masiello familiarised with Finnish conscript training, operating environment, and arctic conditions. At the Utti Jaeger Regiment, the Commanders observed the multinational Southern Griffin 25 -exercise with its focus on special force and helicopter operation.

– The Armies of Italy and Finland have excellent opportunities to step up co-operation as concerns training exercise activity and a number of other sectors in the near future. Especially training under arctic conditions is an excellent opportunity for our troops both as regards national requirements and those set by the new NATO force structure, says Lieutenant General Masiello at the end of his visit.

During the visit, the Commanders discussed alongside Army activity also capability development and Finland’s NATO integration. The discussions included, furthermore, agreeing on practical measures for intensifying co-operation between the two Armies as concerns, for instance, drone operation, fires, and training exercise activity.

– It is also important for us to increase understanding of the security environment of NATO’s southern flank and its development. We will find things to do and information to exchange relating to development of capabilities and operating under cold conditions, says Lieutenant General Välimäki.

The visit reinforced the military partnership among the two nations and built up the basis for joint future projects.