Commander of Joint Force Command Norfolk visited Finland
Commander of Joint Force Command Norfolk, Vice Admiral Doug Perry visited Finland during 15 – 17 May 2024. The programme included visits to the Defence Command, the Finnish Army, and the Finnish Navy. During his visit, Vice Admiral Perry also met President of the Republic, Alexander Stubb, and Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, General Janne Jaakkola.
Vice Admiral Doug Perry was familiarised with the Finnish defence system and capabilities as well as the general military situation and operational environment. During the visit hosted by Chief of Defence Command, Lieutenant General Vesa Virtanen, discussions also covered the progress of the integration of the Finnish Defence Forces’ NATO membership, and the Alliance’s joint operational planning.
According to Chief of the Defence Command, Lieutenant General Virtanen, discussions with Vice Admiral Perry harmonised the view on the defence of Northern areas of NATO.
- My warm thanks to Vice Admiral Perry for the visit and fruitful discussions. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the Finnish defence system. Through these discussions, we can form a common view on the collective defence of the Northern areas of NATO, in which the role of JFC Norfolk is central. We have good preconditions for further deepening our cooperation with JFC Norfolk. Our close cooperation strengthens even more our national security and that of the whole Alliance.
Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, General Janne Jaakkola emphasises the importance of the meetings of the leadership:
- In particular, familiarisation with the services always brings significant added value to the meetings.
Decisions regarding the command structure are expected later this year. The headquarters structure is also being prepared in NATO, but no decision has yet been taken involving the basing of a possible sub-headquarters in Finland. The matter is under preparation in NATO. From the Finnish Defence Forces’ perspective, an integral part of the entity is in which way the Northern area prepares for collective defence, and how the Nordic countries’ national defences are integrated as part of the entity.
Vice Admiral Perry was familiarised with the Finnish defence system and capabilities. The visit included reviewing the activity of the Finnish Navy on the Finnish minelayer Hämenmaa, led by Commander of the Finnish Navy, Rear Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen.
The discussions between Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, Commander of the Finnish Army, and Vice Admiral Perry covered the structure, activity, and readiness of the Army. The discussions included the operational environment, varying weather and other conditions in the Nordic countries, and their impact on the execution of ground defence and training of the troops.
Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk) is the first of NATO’s operational headquarters to focus on the Atlantic region, and the only one of NATO’s three operational level headquarters based in the United States. JFC Norfolk plans, implements and supports the Alliance’s military operations and increases security in the Northern and Arctic region. Additionally, JFC Norfolk protects strategic maritime connections in all operational environments, and secures maritime connections between Europe and North America.
JFC Norfolk functions in close cooperation with the United States Navy Second Fleet (USNAVY 2nd Fleet) with Vice Admiral Perry serving as Commander of the Fleet as well.
