After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO transformed its forward presence in frontline states from enhanced Forward Presence to Forward Land Forces (FLF), complementing forward-deployed battalion-sized units with the ability to scale up to brigade-sized units where and when required. The FLFs currently consist of eight multinational battlegroups and brigade-sized reinforcements in frontline states. In 2024, the Allies decided to develop an FLF presence in Finland.
FLF Finland follows NATO’s general concept for Forward Land Forces, but it differs from existing models. The battlegroup, led by framework nation Sweden, will be based in Northern Sweden, not Finland. Allied forces will rotate on Finnish territory based on exercises and the evolving security situation.
FLF Finland offers an opportunity to deepen Finnish-Swedish defence cooperation and NATO integration and reinforce the Alliance’s posture on the northeastern frontline, while meeting NATO requirements.
Russia has pledged to strengthen its military presence near Finland once the war in Ukraine ends. This could prompt Allies to assess whether FLF Finland should be expanded to include in-place forces on Finnish territory, rather than relying on rapid mobilization and reinforcement from Sweden and contributing countries.
