Nordic Countries and NATO Team Up for Defense Exercise

Defense News ,NATO :-  In a big training event called Nordic Response 24, Finland got ready to protect the northern parts of NATO for the first time. This was a big deal because it was based on Article 5.

This exercise covered areas in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Soldiers practiced fighting on land, at sea, and in the sky. Nordic countries joined forces with allies from across the Atlantic Ocean in Norway, Finland, and Sweden.

The head of the Finnish force in the exercise, Brigadier General Manu Tuominen, said that this event showed how well the allies and Nordic countries could work together. Sweden, Finland's western neighbor, became a member of NATO during the exercise. Sweden sent about 3,000 soldiers to Finland, making a big mechanized brigade as part of an army division.

Now that all Nordic countries are part of NATO, they can plan their defense better and improve their military together, Tuominen added.

Different parts of the military like the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with logistics and communication units, worked with allies during the exercise. Air Force planes flew over Finland, Sweden, and Norway in international groups. The Navy's coastal unit did practice landings in Northern Norway with soldiers from Sweden, France, and Italy. Setting up the command structure and moving troops in the tough northern conditions needed a lot of teamwork and special skills.

Leaders from all levels of the Finnish Defense Forces were part of the exercise, from big command centers to small outposts. This helped them learn how NATO works and how they can join NATO-led missions better.

The success of the exercise came from close teamwork between different agencies, not just from one country but from Finland, Sweden, and Norway. Civilian groups helped move troops and keep them supplied during the exercise.

Besides the military training, there was also a medical drill. Finland and Norway worked together to practice evacuating injured soldiers from Finland to a special hospital in Norway. This showed how well different agencies could work together in emergencies. The Finnish Defense Forces also helped with medical evacuations outside the exercise, showing their readiness to help in real-life situations.