Rovaniemi: Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen has announced that he has selected Rovaniemi, in the country's northern Lapland region, as the location for NATO's Forward Land Forces (FLF) headquarters. Hakkanen said in a statement issued by the Defense Ministry that Rovaniemi will be the location of the Multinational Staff Element (MNSE) of the FLF.

According to Anadolu Agency, the focus of the operations of the FLF Finland battle group will be in Northern Finland and it will rely mainly on Rovaniemi and Sodankyla. Rovaniemi is considered the best place in Finland to locate a permanent FLF headquarters due to its synergy effects and reliance conditions. Once established, the headquarters will form the permanent presence of FLF in northern Finland.

Hakkanen emphasized that the multinational headquarters is part of strengthening NATO's deterrence and defense in the alliance's northern and Arctic regions. The statement further noted that the multinational headquarters of the FLF will be permanently stationed in Finland, but the forces will be present in Finland on an exercise basis or as required by the security situation.