Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen decides to launch activities of NATO’s MCLCC-N in Mikkeli

On 29 August 2025, Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen decided to commence the activities of NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command North (MCLCC-N) in Mikkeli, Finland.

“Getting the Multi-Corps Land Component Command North in Finland is one of the most important goals of the first years of our membership in NATO. In the early months of the government term, we actively promoted our objectives at ministerial and commander level and in various NATO bodies. One year ago, in the summer of 2024, the NATO defence ministers endorsed the establishing of an MCLCC in Finland. Later that autumn, I chose Mikkeli as the site of the command. The planning has made brisk progress, and we are very pleased that we are able to launch the MCLCC-N as originally scheduled,” said Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

In peacetime, the Multi-Corps Land Component Command North will operate at the basic level of readiness and plan, prepare, command and control joint exercises and other peacetime activities. In emergency conditions, it would plan, command and control land operations and defence in the North.

“Establishing the MCLCC-N is an extensive project even at the scale of the Alliance. The command is an integral part of NATO’s deterrence and defence, and Finland has a major role in supporting the implementation of NATO’s land defence in the North. This will strengthen the security of Finland and of the Alliance,” Minister Häkkänen said.

The first staff members will start working at the MCLCC-N, to be established at the base of the Finnish Army Command in Mikkeli, today, on September 1. The goal is that a few dozen officers will work permanently at the command in peacetime.

“I wish every success to the first staff members starting in Mikkeli today. While the MCLCC-N is launched today, we will continue to develop its activities in the coming years. We will test and evaluate the command’s ability to carry out its tasks in all security situations, for example, through exercises,” said Häkkänen.

Inquiries: Samuli Puhakka, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 089.

Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 415 444 967.