Finland to contribute to NATO’s peacetime maritime activities

Finland will contribute to NATO’s peacetime maritime activities in 2027, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release.

The government in its plenary session on Thursday endorsed a report, presented by Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, on the Finnish Defence Forces’ participation in NATO’s collective peacetime activities in 2027.

Finland will contribute personnel and deploy one Katanpää class vessel to the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) and be ready to deploy one Hamina class vessel to the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) if need arises.

The country, however, is not planning to contribute to Forward Land Forces (FLF) in the territory of Allies or to NATO Air Policing missions in the airspace of Allies in 2027.

“Our participation in NATO’s peacetime activities signals the unity of the Alliance and shows its readiness and defence capability. It also demonstrates that we bear our responsibility for the security of our neighbouring areas and that we are committed to increasing stability in the Baltic Sea. The security situation in the region is emphasised as a result of Russia continuing its hybrid activities,” said Häkkänen.

He said that the current security policy situation is such that it is best that the Finnish Army focus on activities in the territory of Finland, as is exemplified by the creation of Multi-Corps Land Component Command North in Finland and by the forthcoming Forward Land Forces Finland which can be scaled up when required.

“Both strengthen NATO’s collective defence. Progress in our F-35 programme will determine when we will be able to contribute to Air Policing missions in the airspace of our Allies,” he added.

NATO’s collective peacetime activities are an important element of NATO’s deterrence and defence posture throughout the Alliance.

These activities include Forward Land Forces (FLF), the Standing Naval Forces (SNF), NATO Air Policing missions, NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (NATO IAMD), the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) and various vigilance and readiness activities.

Their purpose is to demonstrate NATO’s readiness and defence capability and to show that the Allies are committed to unity, solidarity and burden-sharing.