Finland sustains strong, interoperable Defence Forces: Bauer

Chair of the Military Committee of NATO, Admiral Rob Bauer, who was visiting Finland on Friday said that Finland sustains strong Defence Forces which brings added value to Euro-Atlantic security, said the Finnish Defence Forces in a press release. During his visit, Bauer discussed with the high command of the Finnish Defence Forces, and with the highest representatives of the Finnish state.

He also familiarised with the activity of the Finnish Defence Forces and of the Finnish Navy and said that he was impressed by the capability of the Finnish Defence Forces.

“Finland is one of the closest cooperation partners of NATO, and a strong actor in the Euro-Atlantic security environment. We share the same values and encounter many of the same threats. Finland sustains substantial military resources with high value to our common security. The Finnish Defence Forces remains fully interoperable with NATO forces. Finnish troops regularly participate in exercises held by NATO or by members of the Alliance.”

As an example of the active exercise and training activity Admiral Bauer brings up the exercise Baltops 2022 that ended on Friday.

Participated by up to circa 7,000 troops from altogether 14 NATO member and partner nations, the exercise drill involved exercising joint air and maritime operations, as well as amphibious missions.

According to Bauer, NATO accession would facilitate deeper Nordic and Baltic defence cooperation.

During his visit, Bauer also met with President Sauli Niinistö and Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto.