Russian Ambassador to Helsinki Pavel Kuznetsov says NATO’s forward presence group in Finland is expected to become fully operational this year.

He stated that the launch of the new NATO structure in its full configuration is scheduled for the current year. According to Kuznetsov, the Swedish authorities have proposed changing the existing format so that NATO troops can be stationed on a permanent basis in northern Finland. He noted that this model has long been used by the alliance in the Baltic states.

Based on the ambassador’s information, troops from the United Kingdom, Iceland, Denmark, Italy and France will rotate into Finland to take part in joint tactical exercises with local forces. At the same time, Kuznetsov pointed out that, if necessary, the alliance can quickly scale up its presence to the level of a full brigade — roughly 3,000 to 5,000 servicemen.

He also recalled that in September of last year a NATO regional land command headquarters began operating in Mikkeli, about 140 kilometres from the Russian border. This headquarters is designated as one of the key elements in the alliance’s system of military deterrence against Russia in North-Eastern Europe.