NATO’s Northern Flank Strengthens with Trilateral Exercises in Finland, Norway, and Sweden – Sky Bulletin
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In a show of solidarity and defensive strength, more than 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations will engage in a NATO military exercise across Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The operation, dubbed Nordic Response 2024, commences on Monday and spans nearly two weeks.
Finland’s involvement, with over 4,000 of its soldiers, marks the country’s highest level of participation in an international exercise to date, signifying its maiden effort as a full NATO member in safeguarding alliance territories, Finland’s military conveyed.
Having a shared border with Russia that extends 1,340 kilometers (830 miles), Finland was formally incorporated into NATO in April 2023, an act that followed many years of non-alignment. Sweden is hot on Finland’s heels in the NATO accession journey and is expected to become the 32nd member in March.
The geopolitical landscape experienced a seismic shift after Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, upending the longstanding Nordic sentiment of non-alignment, which has ultimately led to their NATO membership applications in May 2022.
Formerly known as “Cold Response,” the biannual military exercise has been rebranded to “Nordic Response” to reflect the broader participation of the new NATO members, Finland and soon-to-be member Sweden, as announced by the Norwegian Armed Forces.
From March 15, military units from Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United States will push the limits of their collaborative training in stark Arctic conditions.
While roughly half of the troops will operate on terra firma, the others will undertake maritime and aerial exercises, employing an impressive arsenal of submarines, ships, fighter jets, and helicopters, as per Norway’s military.
The mock combat scenarios are set to underscore NATO’s resolve in defending the Nordic front against any adversary threatening its sovereignty, democracy, and values—a resolve underscored by Tron Strand, Brigadier from the Royal Norwegian Air Force.
NATO considers the High North an area of strategic importance and believes exercise Nordic Response 2024 will boost the alliance’s preparedness for large-scale joint operations under harsh environment conditions.
Finland’s newly inaugurated president, Alexander Stubb, together with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, will be evaluating the maneuvers on-site in northern Norway on March 7, an inspection trip that will be Stubb’s first since taking office on March 1.
Nordic Response 2024 is a testament to NATO’s ever-strengthening presence in the Arctic and its commitment to the defense and integrity of its member states. The inclusion of Finland, and soon Sweden, not only expands NATO’s northern defensive perimeter but also reflects a significant transformation in Nordic security policy. As global tensions persist and geopolitical realignments take shape, NATO’s show of unified force and readiness in harsh climates signals a stark message of deterrence, reinforcing the stability and resolve of the alliance in the current precarious European security environment.
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