During 22-29 October, the Finnish Defence Forces participated for the first time in the NATO exercise Steadfast Duel 2025 as a NATO member nation. A capstone computer-assisted command and control exercise of NATO, the exercise involved testing the efficacy of the Alliance’s regional defence plans in the Euro-Atlantic area.
– This exercise marks an important step towards strengthening Finland’s defence as part of NATO’s joint defence. The exercise offered us a unique opportunity to test and develop our joint operating capability together with other NATO member nations as concerns readiness and defence plans. This emphasises the significance of NATO’s collective defence and Finland’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic defence, Finnish Defence Forces’ Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, Lieutenant General Kari Nisula says.
Steadfast Duel 2025 was the first Article-5 command and control exercise that convened NATO’s three Allied Joint Force Commands (Brunssum, Napoli and Norfolk) and all 32 member nations, including Finland and Sweden. During the exercise, NATO’s readiness and capability for interoperable operating were validated, and regional defence plans and NATO’s operational command and control system were tested under realistic crisis conditions.
