Commander of the United States Special Operations Command visited Finland

General Bryan P. Fenton, Commander of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), visited Finland on 7 June. The visit was hosted by Lieutenant General Kari Nisula, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Finnish Defence Forces. General Fenton also met with the Chief of Defence, General Janne Jaakkola.

The visit included discussions on current themes related to the security environment, particularly concerning Finland’s regional stability and military cooperation. The discussions emphasized operational planning, bilateral defense cooperation between Finland and the United States, Finland’s NATO integration, and the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), which provides a framework for allied presence and cooperation in Finland. The main discussions took place at the Coastal Brigade.

During the visit, Finland’s special operations capabilities and development directions were presented as part of broader efforts to strengthen interoperability. Finland’s special operations activities are centralized in the Utti Jaeger Regiment, a high-readiness unit. The regiment actively participates in international exercises, which enhances interoperability with partners and allies.

The importance of rapidly deployable and flexible capabilities has become increasingly emphasized in modern defense. In this context, discussions with the USSOCOM Commander provided a natural opportunity to address both special operations and broader operational cooperation and interoperability among allies.

The visit supports interoperability in all possible conditions and at all levels, with a focus on compatibility, readiness, and proactive cooperation.

_{USSOCOM commands U.S. Special Operations Forces. In addition to direct military actions, its core tasks include intelligence, internal defense, support operations, humanitarian assistance, and efforts against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. USSOCOM’s headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida.}