Sweden considers military deployment to Finland’s Lapland amid NATO discussions

Discussions have been ongoing regarding the potential deployment of Swedish soldiers to Finnish Lapland, but no decisions have been made yet, according to Colonel Markku Viitasaari from the Ministry of Defence.

Iltalehti reported on comments made by Peter Hultqvist, the chairman of the Swedish Parliament’s Defence Committee and former Minister of Defence, who stated that the Swedish Armed Forces are already preparing for the deployment of troops to Finland’s Lapland. However, Viitasaari disputed this claim, suggesting there is a kernel of truth but clarifying that the matter likely pertains to the formation of some kind of NATO presence in Finland that might include Swedish soldiers. He emphasized that this is not about a grand troop transfer to the region.

He further noted that while NATO membership may facilitate the arrival of foreign military personnel, a national decision is required for their entry into Finland. As such, detailed plans regarding the deployment of Swedish troops to Lapland do not currently exist. Viitasaari speculated that Hultqvist’s comments might be a preliminary step in laying the groundwork for future decisions, as such placements would require coordination among multiple nations due to their NATO affiliation.

In the context of military collaboration, both Finland and Sweden have conducted joint exercises even before their NATO membership. This spring, a significant military exercise named Nordic Response 2024 took place in Lapland, involving approximately 20,000 participants from Finland, Sweden, and several other countries.