NATO to establish new HQ in southern Finland — 140 km from Russia
NATO plans to open a headquarters in the city of Mikkeli in southern Finland, Finnish publication Iltalehti reported on April 9, citing Norwegian Defense Minister, Bjørn Gram.
An around-the-clock High Readiness Headquarters will be established in Mikkeli, which will be subordinate to the joint forces command in Norfolk, USA, the publication said.
NATO selected Mikkeli for several reasons, including that the Finnish Army headquarters is also located there.
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The city is situated approximately 140 km from the border with Russia and 320 km from St. Petersburg.
The establishment of the headquarters in Mikkeli will be on agenda of NATO July summit in Washington, Iltalehti added.
Norway wants all NATO members from Northern Europe to be subordinate to Norfolk in the new Alliance command structure, Gram added.
"We have agreed to this and have been working on it for some time,” he said.
“It is crucial to have all types of armed forces under a single command to really take advantage of all the Nordic countries membership in NATO."
Norway's position had a decisive influence on this issue, sources in the fields of foreign and security policy told the Finnish media.
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Christopher Cavoli, "has warmed to the Scandinavian countries’ common will", insiders said.
Gram confirmed that the idea is moving forward.
"Our goal is progressing well, the Norwegian minister said.
“I am looking forward to being under one command, being part of one regional defense plan. Scandinavian countries will have a common deterrence and defense system in this case."
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