Rovaniemi to host NATO Forward Land Forces HQ

The Finnish Ministry of Defence has chosen Rovaniemi as the location for NATO’s Forward Land Forces (FLF) Multinational Staff Element (MNSE), said the ministry in a press release on Monday.

The structure of the MNSE will evolve in the coming years, said the ministry.

The plan is to have about half of its activities carried out by the framework nation and the host nation and the other half by the contributing Allies.

“The focus of FLF Finland’s battlegroup activities will be in Northern Finland and, largely supported by Rovaniemi and Sodankylä. Considering the synergies and the ability to support the activities, Rovaniemi is the best location for a permanent FLF Staff Element in Finland,” said Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen in the press release.

He pointed out that earlier the country succeeded in securing the support of the Allies for approach to FLF Finland.

The implementation of that model has progressed well. The MNSE will form FLF Finland’s permanent presence in Northern Finland, said the Minister.

The peacetime strength of the MNSE will reach the same level as the Multi Corps Land Component Command in Mikkeli, he added.

The Forward Land Forces form a part of NATO’s peacetime activities. Under normal conditions, they train and exercise together with national home defence forces.

Finland will permanently host the FLF’s Multinational Staff Element. Troops will be present in Finland for exercises and as required by the security situation.

The FLF are part of NATO’s operations planning. Should the security situation change, the FLF presence could be scaled up to brigade size. Allies also exercise their ability to increase the land forces in peacetime.

Sweden as the framework nation, the United Kingdom, France and the Nordic countries Denmark, Norway and Iceland have announced their participation in NATO’s Forward Land Forces in Finland.