Official press releases, news and speeches that the minister has held are located in this section. The Ministry of Defence publishes all of its press releases and news in Finnish and Swedish and many of them in English, too.
Press Releases
Finnish Minister of Defence Häkkänen at opening of NATO’s MCLCC-N: This is a historic day for Finland, NATO and Mikkeli
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen gave an opening address at the inauguration of NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command North (MCLCC-N) in Mikkeli, Finland, on Friday 3 October 2025.
“This is a historic day for Finland, NATO and Mikkeli. We set out to seek the establishment of a NATO command in Finland in autumn 2023 to maximise Finland’s security. Our objectives were approved at the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence in June 2024. Now, a year later, we are already launching the command. Having the Multi-Corps Land Component Command North in Finland is a demonstration of our expertise and a show of trust in Finland. The MCLCC-N will strengthen NATO’s defence in the High North and increase security in Finland,” Minister Häkkänen said.
In accordance with Minister Häkkänen’s decision, the Multi-Corps Land Component Command North started its activities at the base of the Finnish Army Command in Mikkeli on 1 September 2025. At present, the MCLCC-N has a staff of around 10 persons, and the goal is to raise the number of staff in peacetime to around 50 persons. It will have staff from different Allies and from the Finnish Defence Forces.
“I thank our Allies for their support in establishing the command in Finland, and I would like to extend a warm welcome to the international staff of the command. We have an important task ahead of us. As a response to the dangerous state of the international security situation we are now renewing and strengthening NATO with unprecedented strength. The MCLCC-N is tasked with bolstering NATO’s defence in the High North so that we will be able to guarantee the security of our region for years to come,” Häkkänen said.
The MCLCC-N will plan, prepare and command the activities of NATO land forces in Northern Europe under Joint Force Command Norfolk. In normal conditions, the MCLCC-N will be responsible for NATO exercises and other peacetime activities in its area. In emergency conditions, it would plan, command and control land operations and defence in the High North.
Inquiries: Samuli Puhakka, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358,295,140,089. Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358,415,444,967.
Minister's speech at the opening of NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command North