About the fact that the matter for which the Finns had been sought for months was finally finalized, Hook He informed an interview for Lansi-Savo published on Friday.
As he donated about several dozen people The command will start his work in autumn. At the beginning, foreign officers and Finnish staff will be stationed there. In the future, however, the expansion of the center is not excluded.
A new staff of NATO Land Forces in Finland. “Signal for Russia”
Mikkeli It was chosen to be new command of units NATO in Scandinavia due to the strategic location and existing military structures. Antti Hakkanen said that the location would allow the alliance to more effective implementation of exercises and land operations north Europe.
– it is also a signal for RussiaThat Finlandia He is a full member of NATO. The role of the Alliance in Finland's defense is strong, and Finland has more and more stronger defense every year, he said.
The unit will integrate its work with the joint operational command of NATO in Norfolk, USA. For now, representatives of what countries will be involved in activities in Mikkeli. It is known, however, that The commander of the quarters will also be the commander of the Finnish army.
The new NATO command structure (MCLCC, NATO Multi Corps Land Component Command), the first one in Finland, will be created at the General Staff of the Finnish Armed Forces in Mikkela, the capital of Sawonia, the region on the largest Finnish Lake Saimaa. From there by land to the border with Russia in Imatra there is about 140 km, while In a straight line through the Lake District – about 100 km.
NATO forces extended in Lapland
Last week, Hakkanen announced that The bases in the extended NATO Land Forces will be located in Laplandin Rovaniemi and in Sodankyla, approx. 130 km behind the Arctic Circle.
The extended forces of NATO, consisting of units from different alliance countries Northern Brigade of the Finnish Armed Forcesspecializing in activities in Arctic areas and in anti -aircraft defense. The formation will lead Sweden.