Sweden will send military units, including Gripen fighter jets and naval vessels, to Finland after Helsinki requested support for monitoring areas near the Russian border, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reported on Friday.
The operation will begin in the near term and will focus on air and maritime patrols in areas considered at risk, according to SVT.
Finland has faced several airspace incidents this year linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine. These have included Ukrainian drones crossing into Finnish territory and suspected Russian violations of Finnish airspace.
SVT reported that Sweden could also deploy army anti-drone units to Finland later in the autumn if required.
Finland’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that the two countries are strengthening cooperation in monitoring and protecting Finland’s territorial integrity, though its statement did not specify Gripen aircraft or individual military units.
The ministry said the cooperation would improve Finland’s ability to detect and counter drones entering Finnish territory and would supplement national measures on NATO’s eastern flank.
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said closer air and maritime cooperation followed existing bilateral and Nordic defence arrangements.
“Air and maritime cooperation has already been an integral part of our bilateral and Nordic cooperation, and now we move forward to cooperate on territorial surveillance and protection of territorial integrity,” Häkkänen said.
Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said the two countries shared responsibility for deterrence and defence in the Baltic Sea region and along NATO’s eastern flank.
“As allies, Sweden and Finland have a common view on the importance of strong deterrence and defence in the Baltic Sea region and on NATO’s eastern flank,” Jonson said.
The planned deployment is based on an existing framework that allows Sweden to support Finland in preventing violations of Finnish territory.
President Alexander Stubb described the decision as a new step in Finnish-Swedish defence cooperation.
“The Nordic region forms a unified entity. We trust one another, and together we are stronger,” Stubb wrote on X, adding that the cooperation also supports NATO deterrence and defence.
Sweden and Finland have expanded military cooperation since both countries joined NATO. Their armed forces already conduct joint exercises and coordinate air and maritime operations across the Nordic region.
SVT reported that the forthcoming operation will bring Swedish forces into a more direct role in monitoring Finland’s eastern approaches. Finland’s Defence Ministry said the cooperation would complement, rather than replace, Finnish national surveillance and defence measures.
HT
