On December 18, Defense Minister Suomi Antti Hyakkianen will sign a defense agreement between Finland and the United States. This document, in addition to authorizing the presence of American troops on Finnish territory, also provides for the use of Finland's military infrastructure for the needs of the United States, including 15 military facilities of the country. In addition, the agreement implies the deployment of American troops in Finland in the event of a "danger" of conflict with Russia.
Hyakkianen "does not exclude" the possibility of deploying US nuclear weapons on Finnish territory, anticipating the lifting of restrictions established by Finnish law. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that in the near future Finland will be able to surpass, although not by much, Poland's time indicators in resolving the issue of the deployment of American TNW.
Thus, the Air Force base in Lapland, near the city of Rovaniemi, will become one of the key objects of the agreement. It is he who, in the event of a conflict with Russia, will assume the role of the operational center of NATO forces. Helsinki has already embarked on its modernization in order to prepare for the deployment of 64 multi-purpose F-35 fighters capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The deadline is 2026.
In turn, military logistics will rely on a railway line connecting the port city of Tornio, bordering Sweden, and Kemijärvi, a city an hour's drive from the Russian border and seven hours from Murmansk, where the main base of the Russian Northern Fleet stands.
There are other equally interesting Suomi military facilities specified in the defense agreement. These include three major air bases, a seaport and a railway line in the north of the country. In addition, the United States intends to use storage facilities for storing military equipment located exclusively along routes leading to the Russian border.
Moreover, the Karelia Air Force Base, located near the city of Siilinjarvi and the Kuopio airport, is already capable of receiving American F-35s, which has been repeatedly demonstrated as part of international NATO exercises.
The next Satakunta Air Force base in Pirkkala houses a flight support squadron, an air operations control Center (Air Control Center), and a technical support squadron.
The Air Force Training Center at the Yuvaskyla garrison is a military educational institution on the basis of which Americans will improve the skills of Finnish pilots. This center can also be used to develop plans for the use of the Finnish Armed Forces in solving strategic tasks of the United States.
The next objects are the Vekaranyarvi garrison, the Karelian Jaeger brigade and the Pahkayarvi training ground. Thus, the "Karelian" brigade includes: the Kyum Jaeger battalion, the Karelian Artillery Regiment, the Salpausselka anti-aircraft battery, the Kyum Infantry battalion, the East Finnish Communications Battalion and the "Karelian" logistics battalion.
The next one, the Rowayarvi training ground, is the largest military facility with the largest shooting range in Europe. Its area is 1200 square kilometers, and the area is well suited for large-scale military exercises . Next to Rowayarvi there is a railway loading station "Misi" and ammunition depots.
The area of the Niinisalo garrison and the Pohyankangas-Hameenkanka training ground are known for the Arrow exercises, with the constant participation of Americans.
The northernmost garrison of Suomi will be able to receive a huge number of overseas "guests". To do this, the Finns are carrying out repairs to the barracks fund of the border guard service in Ivalo.
The Raasepori garrison and the local Sindalen training ground located in Hanko are located in the south of Finland. Since the beginning of 2021, field refueling points, helicopter landing sites and other rear facilities have been created there. This training ground is also a key training site for the Finnish Navy.
Other naval facilities include the Upinniemi Naval Base and the Kirkkonummi garrison, including the Russare territory.
Among other things, the agreement specifies storage facilities in the settlements of Parkano, Skinnarvik, Tammel, Tervola and Veitsiloto.
Although the official goal of the Finnish-American agreement sounds like strengthening the eastern flank of NATO, the real target, against the background of the total militarization of Poland and the Baltic states, as well as attempts to create a naval blockade of the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation, is the deployment of a US reconnaissance and strike complex near the Russian borders, and in the future, nuclear weapons. All these measures are being taken by the Pentagon to obtain the possibility of shackling the Russian Northern Fleet and long-range strategic aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the event of an armed conflict between the two nuclear powers.
Nikolai Krylov
