Finland and Sweden bolster NATO’s northern flank

Minister Jonson met, during the Cold Response 26 exercise, with his Finnish counterpart Antti Häkkänen and also the Norwegian minister Tore O. Sandvik. As Jonson emphasised, „together we are strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture in northern Europe.” In a joint statement the three defence ministers said the Forward Land Forces (FLF) initiative should be established this year, no later than the NATO summer summit in Ankara. Several countries have already signalled interest in joining the project: Norway, Denmark, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Iceland.   

Sweden assumed the role of the framework nation for the whole initiative. The Cold Response 26 exercise, led by Norway, involve roughly 25–30,000 troops from 14 NATO states and form part of the wider Arctic Sentry operation. The exercise tests interoperability, logistics and the ability to operate in extreme Arctic conditions. Its scope includes the rapid movement of land, air and maritime forces. Meanwhile, the FLF Finland initiative is a direct response to the altered security landscape following Finland’s and Sweden’s recent accession to the Alliance.  

Thus, NATO’s northern flank has acquired strategic weight in light of increased Russian military activity on the Kola Peninsula, China’s growing ambitions, and climate-driven changes that are opening new shipping routes and access to resources.

Cold Response 26 marks this year’s largest Arctic exercise by the Alliance, practically demonstrating the capacity for rapid transfer of sizeable forces from Sweden to northern Finland and the ability of allied units to reinforce the region at short notice.