Sweden’s military will help surveil and protect Finnish territory until at least the end of this year amid the deteriorating security situation, officials have said.
The Finnish Defense Forces said in an Aug. 28 statement that Sweden’s participation will include deployment of the Swedish Air Force’s JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. The navy’s Visby-class corvette, which is a small warship, will operate in the Baltic Sea region.
These measures will strengthen air surveillance, the statement said, allowing Finland’s military to focus its own resources on repelling territorial violations or reacting to incidents.
The Finnish military said that the close cooperation with its NATO ally “will strengthen security in the North and NATO’s Eastern flank, also enhancing Finland’s and Sweden’s interoperability in all situations, both in peacetime and during emergencies and disruptions.”
“Sweden has responded to a request from Finland to strengthen its air defense due to the deteriorating security situation,” Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said.
Jonson said that Sweden may also contribute ground-based anti-drone systems.
The statement from the Finnish Defense Forces stressed that there is no direct military threat directed at Finland. It also noted that as part of Ukraine’s defensive operations against Russia, Ukrainian drones have strayed into Finnish territory.
Drone Incursions
Finland and Sweden have a “well-established and active” defense cooperation, the statement said, across the army, air force, and navy, including military exercises.
In recent years, the two countries have, along with Denmark and Norway, cooperated under the concept of Nordic Air Power to improve the ability of these regional allies to work together for NATO’s collective defense.
Both countries are NATO’s two newest members. Finland joined in 2023 and Sweden in 2024.
Sweden had long maintained a policy of nonalignment, keeping itself out of military alliances for some 200 years, but Stockholm changed its stance following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Finland, which shares an 833-mile border with Russia, also had a policy of non-alignment but joined the alliance amid fears of a wider conflict in Europe.
NATO Activity in Arctic
NATO allies have been ramping up their defensive activities in their territories, including in the Arctic.
In February, the allies conducted the large-scale military exercise Arctic Sentry amid concerns about the threat posed by Russia, given its military activities, and by China, due to its increasing interest in the High North.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Aug. 31 that NATO’s activities in the Arctic pose a direct threat to Russia’s security.
“NATO is conducting large-scale military exercises involving non-regional countries and introducing new components of its command-and-control system,” Lavrov wrote.
The Russian foreign minister said such activity increases the “risk of incidents that could trigger an armed confrontation with potentially disastrous consequences.”
Despite growing tensions over the region and concerns from NATO, Moscow has previously dismissed allegations that it poses a threat to allies or the continent of Europe.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Aug. 27 that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not expand its war with Ukraine by attacking NATO allies.
“I’ve had good talks with him. He’s not going to be attacking a NATO territory,” Trump said during a press conference in the Oval Office.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Friends Read Free
Copy
Facebook
Tweet
