Joint statement on Cold Response 26 and NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland by the Ministers of Defence of Finland, Sweden and Norway

Joint statement on Cold Response 26 and NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland by the Ministers of Defence of Finland, Sweden and Norway on 16 March 2026.

NATO's Forward Land Forces Finland forms the 9th FLF in NATO and is an important part of NATO's enhanced deterrence and defence posture in the High North.

The exercise Cold Response 26 has been utilized to support the further development of FLF Finland. By exercising large-scale movement of forces from Sweden to Northern Finland, Cold Response 26 has demonstrated elements of the FLF employment. Cold Response 26 is also included in NATO's activity Arctic Sentry.

The exercise includes participation by nations that have expressed their intention to contribute to the further development of FLF Finland. This includes Norway, Denmark, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. Iceland has also expressed their intention to contribute to FLF Finland.

FLF Finland is progressing rapidly and will be established this year. Sweden will provide the core of the multinational battlegroup for FLF Finland, based in Boden (Northern Sweden). The intention is that FLF Finland will be established before the NATO Summit in Ankara this summer.