The Finnish Ministry of Defence announces the establishment of a NATO unit in Riihimäki, operational in 2027, to support national defense and the Alliance.

The Finnish Minister of Defence, Antti Hakkanen, announced the creation of a NATO control and command unit in the city of Riihimäki, 70 kilometers north of Helsinki, aimed at enhancing Finland's defense capabilities. This unit, consisting of approximately 60 members, will become operational at the beginning of 2027 and will include a Deployable Communications and Information Systems Module (DCM).

The main objective is to provide communication and information services for NATO forces in Finland and, if necessary, for the entire Alliance. The Finnish Minister of Defence emphasized that the establishment of the DCM will strengthen Finland's defense and transform the garrison in Riihimäki into an important center of expertise in command and control systems.

The site was chosen based on a detailed analysis of national defense needs and those of NATO, an organization of which Finland has been a part since 2023. The announcement coincides with the military exercises "Cold Response," which involve 25,000 soldiers from 14 NATO countries.