Finland’s Navy and Air Force to participate in NATO’s collective peacetime missions

“In 2024, the Finnish Navy will deploy one vessel and the Finnish Air Force a detachment of up to eight fighter aircraft to NATO’s collective peacetime missions. The Navy will participate in missions of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One in the Baltic Sea and the Air Force in NATO’s Air Shielding mission in Romania, Bulgaria and the Black Sea,” says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

In February, the Government will submit a report to Parliament on Finland’s participation in NATO’s collective peacetime missions.

NATO’s collective peacetime missions are an important element of the Alliance’s essential purpose where all Allies are prepared to support each other through contributing to deterrence and defence across Allied territory.

“Active participation of Allies in NATO’s collective peacetime missions signals the unity of the Alliance and strengthens its deterrence. This participation is part of NATO members’ commitment to the Alliance and their deployment of military resources for NATO’s deterrence and defence. We share the burden of the collective deterrence and defence throughout Allied territory,” says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

At this stage, Finland will not be deploying any ground troops to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). This decision is based on Finland’s geographical position as a frontline nation at NATO’s eastern flank and the predominance of reservists in the Finnish Army, among other factors.

Maritime missions

The Finnish Navy would deploy one vessel of the Katanpää class and a crew of 40 to missions of the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) in the Baltic Sea. The Finnish deployment is planned to start on 1 April and end on 31 May 2024. The main task of the SNMCMG1 is to dispose sea mines and other historical ordnance. In addition to mine disposal, the Finnish vessel would contribute to gaining maritime situational awareness, secure maritime routes, protect undersea infrastructure and carry out vessel- and group-based exercises.

The Finnish Navy personnel joining SNMCMG1 missions would consist of the permanent personnel of the vessel and of contractual military personnel recruited for the purpose from among the reservists.

NATO’s Standing Naval Forces (SNF) consist of four groups: two Standing NATO Maritime Groups (SNMG1 and SNMG2) and two Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Groups (SNMCMG1 and SNMCMG2). They form the maritime component of the NATO Response Force (NRF).

Air Shielding missions

NATO’s Air Shielding missions are based on rotational deployments by Allies. The deployment of a Finnish Air Force detachment to NATO’s Air Shielding missions in Romania, Bulgaria and the Black Sea would take place between 3 June and 31 July 2024. The Finnish detachment would have up to eight fighter aircraft and around 70–100 personnel. The units joining NATO’s Air Shielding missions would take part in Air Policing, armed patrols under command of the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), unarmed flights in joint exercises and creation of deterrence by show of military force.

The current plan is that Finland would deploy only salaried personnel of the Air Force to Air Shielding missions.

NATO exercises are part of collective peacetime missions

Minister of Defence Häkkänen believes that Finland’s military alignment will become more tangible through international exercises. The Finnish Defence Forces will participate in more exercises than before, especially in Finland’s neighbouring regions. Moreover, the frequency and duration of exercises involving troops from our Allies will increase in Finland.

NATO began a large-scale exercise Steadfast Defender 24 in January, aiming to demonstrate the Alliance’s ability to defend its members. Steadfast Defender 24 is NATO’s largest exercise in decades. Some 90,000 soldiers from all 31 member countries and Sweden will participate in the drills.

“Finland’s participation in NATO’s collective peacetime missions and the organisation of NATO exercises in the territory of Finland, for example as part of Steadfast Defender 24, are concrete examples of what Finland’s membership in NATO means in practice. The missions and exercises are part of NATO’s collective activities, strengthening the security of Finland and Finnish people,” Minister Häkkänen says.

The Finnish Defence Forces’ main international exercise in 2024 will be Nordic Response 24, held in northern Finland, Norway and Sweden between 4 March and 15 March. This Norwegian-led combat exercise is a part of Steadfast Defender 24. It will be joined by around 20,000 soldiers from altogether 14 nations. The objective of the exercise is to enhance the capability of NATO to reinforce and defend the northern regions. The exercise will involve around 4,100 Finnish soldiers, nearly half of whom will be reservists.

Inquiries: Janne Kuusela, Director General, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 300.

Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Ville Sipiläinen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 40 761 1558.

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