The Finnish Defence Forces will participate in the Norwegian-led exercise Nordic Response 24 to be held in the northern areas of Finland, Norway and Sweden during 4–15 March 2024. For the first time Finland will participate as a NATO member nation in exercising collective defence of the alliance’s regions. As such this marks the most substantial participation in a multinational exercise in the history of the Finnish Defence Forces. 

  Part of the Steadfast Defender 24 drills, Nordic Response 24 will have NATO nations and partners train the Alliance’s ability to reinforce troops up north for the purpose of training a defensive joint operation in arctic conditions in the areas of Finland, Norway, and Sweden. The extensive military exercise on land, at sea, and in the air is to convene altogether up to c. 20,000 soldiers from 14 countries. 

The exercise will demonstrate NATO’s operating capability, cohesion, and will to defend all of the Alliance’s area. For the first time Finland will participate as a NATO member nation in training collective defence in an extensive joint forces’ exercise. As Steadfast Defender 24 will be the most substantial training exercise of NATO in decades, its preparations and those of Nordic Response 24 have been underway now for a number of years already.

The Finnish Defence Forces’ main international exercise this year, Nordic Response 24 will develop the Finnish Defence Forces’ ability to participate in NATO-led joint operations in the northern region together with allies. Participation in the exercise will advance Finland’s ever closer integration as part of NATO.