Recognized as the world's happiest country and a recent addition to NATO, Finland declared its active involvement in NATO's joint operations for 2024, signaling a significant shift in its security policy.
TOPSHOT - Finnish and Nato flags flutter at the courtyard of the Foreign Ministry in Helsinki, Finland, ahead of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on April 4, 2023. - Finland becomes the 31st member of NATO, in a historic strategic shift provoked by Moscow's war on Ukraine, which doubles the US-led alliance's border with Russia.
Joining NATO operations
Finland's defense ministry confirmed the participation, which will include deploying up to eight fighter jets and a mine-hunting navy vessel, as reported by Interesting Engineering.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both Finland and Sweden sought NATO membership in May 2022. While Finland has officially joined NATO and is actively participating in its operations, Sweden is still awaiting approval from the Hungarian parliament.
Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen underscored the importance of NATO allies engaging in peacetime collective defense missions. He highlighted that such active participation would convey a message of unity among allies and strengthen deterrence efforts.
In the maritime and aerial arena, Finland's Navy will contribute by deploying a Katanpää-class vessel to join NATO's mine countermeasure unit in the Baltic Sea from April to May 2024.
Manned by a 40-member crew, the vessel will undertake crucial tasks such as clearing old sea mines, participating in exercises, and safeguarding underwater infrastructure.
This deployment aligns with NATO's rapid response forces and aims to strengthen the alliance's maritime defense capabilities. The Defense Ministry revealed that, apart from the ship's permanent personnel, contract soldiers will be hired separately from the reserve.
As a demonstration of continued solidarity, Finland's Air Force is set to deploy up to eight fighter jets for air patrolling and military demonstrations in Romania and Bulgaria, including the Black Sea region, spanning from June to July.
This Air Shielding operation encompasses various activities. These include air policing, armed patrol flights operating within NATO's integrated air and missile defense framework, joint operation training, and a military display of strength.
Minister Häkkänen emphasized that, given Finland's geographical location on the eastern edge of the alliance and its defense force primarily composed of reservists, the country is currently not involved in NATO's advanced ground forces at this stage.
Aligning with NATO's Initiatives
As Finland progressively aligns with NATO's initiatives, the unfolding Steadfast Defender 24 exercise encompasses approximately 90,000 soldiers from all member nations. This serves as a robust demonstration of the alliance's preparedness to safeguard its member states.
The Economic Times reported that the tangible manifestation of Finland's NATO integration extends to its own territory, notably with the incorporation of the Steadfast Defender 24 training complex.
Defense Minister Häkkänen views these initiatives as concrete manifestations of how Finland's alliance membership contributes to the nation's security and the well-being of its citizens.
A pivotal event in 2024, the upcoming Nordic Response 24 exercise, will involve approximately 20,000 soldiers from 14 countries, with almost half comprising Finnish reservists. Under the leadership of Norway, this exercise aims to enhance NATO's capabilities in fortifying and defending the northern regions.
The defense minister additionally disclosed that a report on Finland's participation in these initiatives would be presented to the parliament by the State Council in February.
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