Cooperation between the Nordic Armies and NATO Forces in the Northern Region Strengthened Through Finnish Army-Hosted Engagements

Finnish Army Commander, Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki, hosted Nordic Army Commanders in Helsinki and Mikkeli, as well as operational planning meeting concerning NATO forces in the Northern Region. During the week, the Finnish Army also hosted the leadership and subject-matter experts of the U.S. Multi-Domain Command – Europe (MDC-E) and the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (10AAMDC).

The week began at the Finnish National Defence University in Santahamina, where the Finnish Army Commander, together with the Nordic Army Commanders and NATO Senior Mentor, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Sir Nick Borton, met with the leadership of the Finnish National Defence University and delivered lectures to the students of Staff Officer Course 79 at the beginning of their course.

The presentations and subsequent panel discussion focused on the demands placed on senior military leaders on the modern battlefield and on how the Nordic Armies are adapting to changes in the operational environment.

The Generals shared their perspectives and practical lessons learned with the students, providing insights that future General Staff Officers can draw upon in their forthcoming assignments.

– Things are never as bad, or as good, as they initially appear, Sir Nick Borton emphasised.

– This requires a staff to have the ability to acquire the right information and analyse it at the right time in order to support the commander’s decision-making, Borton continued.

The week continued in Mikkeli at the Finnish Army Headquarters, where the Generals participated in operational planning event concerning NATO forces in the Northern Region.

During the talks, operational planning was further advanced and a shared understanding of the planning objectives was deepened.

– Operational planning is progressing steadily in accordance with the established timeline. Common planning and a shared understanding of the operational environment are essential to the credibility and readiness of the defence of the Northern Region. Close Nordic cooperation strengthens our ability to operate together and respond to the demands of an evolving operational environment, Finnish Army Commander Lieutenant General Pasi Välimäki said.

During the week, Finnish Army leadership and subject-matter experts also met with Brigadier General Steven P. Carpenter, Commanding General of Multi-Domain Command – Europe, and Brigadier General Glenn A. Henke, Commanding General of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, together with subject-matter experts from both headquarters.

– From an MDC-E perspective, this week was an excellent example of how multinational cooperation translates into the tangible development of military capabilities. Shared situational understanding and integration are key as we build the ability to operate simultaneously across multiple domains, Brigadier General Steven P. Carpenter said.

– 10AAMDC’s mission is to ensure that air- and missile defence capabilities are seamlessly interoperable with those of our Allies. Our discussions with Finland and the Nordic countries clearly demonstrated that we share the same objective: building a credible and rapidly responsive defence posture in the Northern Region, Brigadier General Glenn A. Henke said.

The meetings addressed the security situation in Europe, with a particular focus on the Northern Region, as well as the short- and long-term development of U.S. and Finnish Army capabilities. Key themes included capabilities, data integration, AI development and cooperation. Discussions covered, among other topics, long-range fires, unmanned aerial and ground systems, and countering such systems.

The discussions were linked to the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative (EFDI) and its implementation in the Northern Region. The engagement further strengthened the Nordic Army leadership’s, Finnish Army Headquarters’ and subordinate headquarters’ understanding of the objectives of EFDI and its practical implementation.

– A common understanding helps us identify a clear and sustainable path for addressing today’s uncertainty and future threats. I greatly appreciate the commitment of the Commanding Generals and their willingness to engage in discussions at this level. The visit strengthened our understanding of the EFDI framework and, above all, of how we can practically develop our capabilities, integration and interoperability together. Stronger together, Lieutenant General Välimäki said.

– The week further strengthened the shared understanding of the operational environment among the Finnish, Nordic, NATO and U.S. Armies, as well as our ability to develop and implement common solutions. Close cooperation, interoperability and common planning form a key foundation for credible defence in the Northern Region, Lieutenant General Välimäki emphasised.