The Armed Forces continue active training and exercise activities with partner countries

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Finland applied for NATO membership in May 2022. Then and even before that, many important partner countries showed their willingness to support Finland.

Defense Minister Antti Kakkonen decided on May 27, 2022 on complementary training activities and exercises with partner countries for the rest of 2022. In the framework of this, the Armed Forces actively practiced this summer on a broad front around Finland together with Finland’s most important partner countries, in particular the United States and Britain Great.

The primary objective of the training and exercise activities with close partners is to strengthen Finland’s defense capabilities, and the presence of forces to tangibly demonstrate Finland’s support.

Training and exercise activities with partner countries continue throughout the remainder of the year. Training and exercise activities include activities within the Army, Navy, Air Force as well as Special Forces.

Most of the activity is carried out within the territory of Finland and has become part of the national exercises. However, in accordance with the principles of the activities of cross-border exercises, the activities are also partially carried out within the territory of the partner countries, the international maritime zone or international airspace. Some end-of-year events are long-running, too.

Active training and exercises conducted in Finland together with partner countries respond to the deteriorating security situation and at the same time improve Finland’s readiness to join NATO.

The Armed Forces will provide more information about training and exercises as relevant dates approach.

In the Ministry of Defense, additional information is provided by the specialist Mika Varviko, tel. +358295140316.