Latest news with #FinnishDefenseForces
Al Arabiya
24-05-2025
- General
- Al Arabiya
Growing Arctic military presence worries Finland's reindeer herders
A fighter jet roaring through the grey sky breaks the tranquility of a boreal forest in northern Finland, one more sign of a growing military presence that is challenging the ability of reindeer herders to exercise their livelihood. 'Military activity has increased massively here since Finland joined NATO,' reindeer herder Kyosti Uutela said on a tour in Rovajarvi, the largest artillery practice range in western Europe, on a day when no ground exercises were underway. Located 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Russian border, Rovajarvi covers an area of 1,070 square kilometers on land that also makes up part of the reindeer husbandry district that Uutela heads. Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, dropped decades of military non-alignment to join NATO in 2023 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And in 2024, a defense cooperation agreement between the United States and Finland came into force. 'Training activities and exercises have increased since the beginning of the war in Ukraine' because of the worsened security situation, the Finnish Defense Forces told AFP in a statement. 'This is naturally also reflected in Rovajarvi,' it said, saying the firing range provided unique training possibilities for international troops thanks to its size, terrain and seasonal changes. Last year, Finland participated in 103 military exercises at home and abroad, up from 89 in 2023. 'Radical increase' Ascending a small hill where the forest has been clear-cut and trenches dug for training purposes, Uutela said the spot 'had been lost' as a grazing ground. 'The use of heavy army tanks and the presence of thousands of soldiers in the forest destroy the lichen pastures,' Uutela said, referring to the reindeer's main source of food. 'Reindeer will not be able to live here anymore,' he said. Finland has 4,305 reindeer owners and around 184,000 reindeer, living in 57 reindeer husbandry districts that cover 36 percent of the country's total area. A part of them belong to the indigenous Sami population that lives in Sapmi, which straddles northern regions of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. The non-Sami people such as Uutela who also practice reindeer husbandry include herders living near the Rovajarvi range, outside the Sapmi homeland. Full-time herders sell reindeer meat, pelts and handicrafts as their main source of income, and husbandry has been an integral part of the indigenous Sami culture for generations. Riikka Poropudas, another herder in Rovajarvi, said the military presence in the area had increased 'radically' since Finland's NATO accession, forcing herders to feed their reindeer in fenced areas more often than before. Finland's Defense Forces said the needs of reindeer husbandry were 'taken into account in the planning of exercises, for example in terms of the times and locations,' adding that they were in daily contact with Rovajarvi herders. But Poropudas worries that a large live-fire and combat exercise involving around 6,500 soldiers from Finland, Sweden and Britain this month would disturb her reindeer. The calving season is at its busiest in mid-May. 'The activities stress both female reindeer and newborn calves, and drive them away from their natural pastures,' she said. Indigenous rights Tuomas Aslak Juuso, acting president of the Sami parliament in Finland, said climate change and land use changes -- including the militarization of the Arctic -- posed special challenges for the roughly 1,200 Sami reindeer herders in Finland. 'Our way of reindeer husbandry depends fully on the herding model and the reindeer being able to graze freely on natural pasture lands,' he said. But the effects of climate change on winter conditions already mean that herders increasingly have to provide their reindeer with supplementary feed 'in order to avoid mass deaths.' A large international military exercise conducted in Finnish Sapmi in 2023 had been 'quite a negative experience for the Sami people,' Juuso said. 'The local reindeer herders had not been informed beforehand, grazing conditions for that spring were damaged and tractors damaged the lichen cover, which may never grow back,' he said. 'When these things are planned, there should be early consultation with the Sami and responsibility for damage and harm.'
Arab News
24-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Growing Arctic military presence worries Finland's reindeer herders
ROVANIEMI, Finland: A fighter jet roaring through the grey sky breaks the tranquility of a boreal forest in northern Finland, one more sign of a growing military presence that is challenging the ability of reindeer herders to exercise their livelihood. 'Military activity has increased massively here since Finland joined NATO,' reindeer herder Kyosti Uutela said on a tour in Rovajarvi, the largest artillery practice range in western Europe, on a day when no ground exercises were underway. Located 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Russian border, Rovajarvi covers an area of 1,070 square kilometers on land that also makes up part of the reindeer husbandry district that Uutela heads. Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, dropped decades of military non-alignment to join NATO in 2023 in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. And in 2024, a defense cooperation agreement between the United States and Finland came into force. 'Training activities and exercises have increased since the beginning of the war in Ukraine' because of the worsened security situation, the Finnish Defense Forces told AFP in a statement. 'This is naturally also reflected in Rovajarvi,' it said, saying the firing range provided unique training possibilities for international troops thanks to its size, terrain and seasonal changes. Last year, Finland participated in 103 military exercises at home and abroad, up from 89 in 2023. Ascending a small hill where the forest has been clear-cut and trenches dug for training purposes, Uutela said the spot 'had been lost' as a grazing ground. 'The use of heavy army tanks and the presence of thousands of soldiers in the forest destroy the lichen pastures,' Uutela said, referring to the reindeer's main source of food. 'Reindeer will not be able to live here anymore,' he said. Finland has 4,305 reindeer owners and around 184,000 reindeer, living in 57 reindeer husbandry districts that cover 36 percent of the country's total area. A part of them belong to the indigenous Sami population that lives in Sapmi, which straddles northern regions of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. The non-Sami people such as Uutela who also practice reindeer husbandry include herders living near the Rovajarvi range, outside the Sapmi homeland. Full-time herders sell reindeer meat, pelts and handicrafts as their main source of income, and husbandry has been an integral part of the indigenous Sami culture for generations. Riikka Poropudas, another herder in Rovajarvi, said the military presence in the area had increased 'radically' since Finland's NATO accession, forcing herders to feed their reindeer in fenced areas more often than before. Finland's Defense Forces said the needs of reindeer husbandry were 'taken into account in the planning of exercises, for example in terms of the times and locations,' adding that they were in daily contact with Rovajarvi herders. But Poropudas worries that a large live-fire and combat exercise involving around 6,500 soldiers from Finland, Sweden and Britain this month would disturb her reindeer. The calving season is at its busiest in mid-May. 'The activities stress both female reindeer and newborn calves, and drive them away from their natural pastures,' she said. Tuomas Aslak Juuso, acting president of the Sami parliament in Finland, said climate change and land use changes – including the militarization of the Arctic – posed special challenges for the roughly 1,200 Sami reindeer herders in Finland. 'Our way of reindeer husbandry depends fully on the herding model and the reindeer being able to graze freely on natural pasture lands,' he said. But the effects of climate change on winter conditions already mean that herders increasingly have to provide their reindeer with supplementary feed 'in order to avoid mass deaths.' A large international military exercise conducted in Finnish Sapmi in 2023 had been 'quite a negative experience for the Sami people,' Juuso said. 'The local reindeer herders had not been informed beforehand, grazing conditions for that spring were damaged and tractors damaged the lichen cover, which may never grow back,' he said. 'When these things are planned, there should be early consultation with the Sami and responsibility for damage and harm.'
New York Times
12-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Prepping for War With Russia at 36 Degrees Below Zero
The Finnish Defense Forces sent out an urgent message: We are being invaded. We need help. Hundreds of American troops — part of a new Arctic division — boarded planes in Fairbanks, Alaska. Their flight curved over the North Pole and landed at Rovaniemi Airport, in northern Finland. The soldiers quickly unpacked their M-4 assault rifles, rocket tubes and belt-fed machine guns and deployed to the quiet snowbound forests, dressed in Arctic whites and vaporproof boots. This was all just a drill, launched in mid-February. But the scenario is believed to be increasingly possible. As climate change melts ice across the Arctic, this part of the world, once so remote and forgotten, is becoming more accessible and more contested. The world's major militaries — American, Russian, Chinese and European — are all training for a winter war. 'It's really only been the past five or six years that everybody's moved on from the global war on terror,' said Robert McBride, a Canadian brigadier general helping oversee the war game. 'Arctic nations are starting to understand the strategic importance,' he said. 'The Arctic now has come to pre-eminence.' The recent drill played out at a strange time in global affairs. President Trump has been leaning away from NATO and getting friendly with Russia, and European leaders are seriously discussing how to create their own defense industry should America abandon them, something unthinkable just a few months ago. But on this frozen ground, at least, American military cooperation and the perception of Russia as a widening threat appeared unchanged. In Finland, which fought the Soviet Union during World War II, Russia remains the once and future enemy. 'There's an old Finnish saying,' explained Janne Kuusela, a Finnish defense official, 'Russia will take what's not nailed to the wall.' America's relationship with Finland, one of NATO's newest members, seems solid. President Trump recently played golf with its president, Alexander Stubb. Afterward he praised Mr. Stubb's golf skills and said, 'I look forward to strengthening the partnership.' The two sides worked well together during the battle in the snow. The Finns were nimble attackers, zigzagging through the woods on long, narrow skis. The Americans set up machine guns on small round hilltops and dug foxholes in the snow. Both sides said Arctic warfare was different. 'It's kind of like operating in space,' said Christopher Brawley, an American colonel. 'No one's coming to help you,' he said. 'And the environment will kill you.' The cardinal rule is staying dry. Jackson Crites Videman, a Finnish soldier, recounted a grueling test that Finnish soldiers must pass. With all their gear on, including skis, they plunge through an ice hole cut into a river and have to scamper out — without freezing or drowning. The day he did it was minus 36 degrees Celsius (roughly minus 33 Fahrenheit). He had about two minutes to strip off drenched clothes and change into new ones before frostbite set in. And his hands stopped working. 'Your friends have to help you with the zippers,' he explained. Mr. Crites Videman, who is half-Finnish, half-American, was drafted into the Finnish military a few months ago. Finland is one of the few Western democracies with mandatory conscription. It's a country with a small population, 5.6 million, and NATO's longest border with Russia — 830 miles — and it recently raised defense spending. Finnish defense experts say that tens of thousands of Russian troops used to be based near that border but were decimated in the Ukraine war. The Finns believe it will take five to 10 years before they become a threat again. Before the Ukraine war, the Finns say, Russia was investing in its Arctic forces, modifying tanks to operate better in the cold and designing new troop transporters. The United States has been doing the same. In 2022, it designated the 11th Airborne, based in Alaska, as its first and only Arctic division. The division is experimenting with new uniforms and different combat skis. During the exercise, the Americans showed off a new tracked vehicle that chewed its way up icy slopes, some quite steep. The soldiers lived off special cold weather rations, higher in calories, because of all the energy drained from trying to stay warm. Warfare during the Arctic summer isn't much easier. First, there is the issue of the sun. It never sets. So the advantage that night-vision equipment gives Western militaries is eliminated. When the ice melts, the land turns incredibly mushy. Upper Finland, for example, is covered in thick forests, small mountains, marshes, rivers, lakes and bogs, making it very difficult to navigate. In many ways, it's easier to move in winter. During the war game, the attackers exploited the frozen rivers like highways. Soldiers dashed across them, guns strapped to their backs. The commanders seemed pleased with the exercise and especially happy not to talk about politics. When asked if he were worried about Mr. Trump's friendliness with Russia, Sami-Antti Takamaa, a Finnish general, said, 'It doesn't worry me at all.' 'The U.S. airborne division just came from Alaska,' he said. 'That's what matters to me.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nokia, Telia Break Ground With Live 5G Slice Trial Across Three Nations For Defense Operations
Nokia Corporation (NYSE:NOK), Telia, and the Finnish Defense Forces completed the world's first successful 5G standalone slice handover across multiple countries on a live network on Wednesday. The trial was made possible by Nokia's advanced 5G Core Software as a Service (SaaS) and AirScale 5G base stations, powered by ReefShark System-on-Chip technology, integrated with Telia's commercial network. Conducted in Finland in March during a Nordic defense exercise, the trial marks a major advancement in 5G capabilities for defense and other mission-critical sectors. The test demonstrated seamless, secure connectivity over a 5G standalone slice while transitioning across three networks in three countries. Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, added, "Seamless 5G slice continuity over country borders is a breakthrough for defense operations, enabling secure and reliable communications for collaborative missions that extend beyond national territories." "Our trial with Telia and the Finnish Defense Forces reflects our commitment to delivering robust 5G solutions for defense customers, helping them achieve mission-critical objectives," Jarmo Vähätiitto, Major General, Finnish Defense Command, Chief of C5 said, "This trial marks a significant milestone in showcasing the dual-use possibilities of 5G for defense while also enhancing communication capabilities within the NATO domain." Yesterday, the company entered a five-year deal with Fibrus, which is a leading broadband provider in Northern Ireland and Cumbria. The company plans to implement its Deepfield solution across Fibrus' expanding network. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Shares U.S. Digital Infrastructure and Real Estate ETF (NYSE:IDGT) and Defiance Connective Technologies ETF (NASDAQ: SIXG). Price Action: NOK shares are down 1.08% at $4.60 at the last check on Wednesday. Read Next:Photo via Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? NOKIA (NOK): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Nokia, Telia Break Ground With Live 5G Slice Trial Across Three Nations For Defense Operations originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Saudi Gazette
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Finland plans to withdraw from landmine ban treaty
HELSINKI — Finland announced Tuesday that it is preparing to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, citing changing security dynamics in the region. President Alexander Stubb said the decision follows a comprehensive assessment by the Finnish Defense Forces and relevant ministries. "Finland will prepare for the withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention," Stubb posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that the move comes as part of a broader effort to strengthen national defense. He also announced that Finland will raise its defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2029, saying, "Finland will always remain a responsible actor in the world, safeguarding its security and defense." The Ottawa Convention, also known as the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, prohibits the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. Finland's decision follows similar declarations by four other NATO states — Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland — amid heightened tensions resulting from Russia's war in Ukraine. — Agencies
