NATO's Multi-Corps Land Component Command Northwest inaugurated in Finland

The MCLCC-NW was inaugurated in Mikkeli, Finland, on 3 October, with the raising of the flags of countries providing the core staff element (left to right: Denmark, US, Finland, Norway, and Sweden), together with the NATO flag (far right). (Finnish Army)

NATO's Multi-Corps Land Component Command Northwest (MCLCC-NW) was inaugurated in Mikkeli, Finland, on 3 October, with the raising of the flags of countries providing the core staff element together with the NATO flag, the Finnish Army announced in a press release later the same day.

The MCLCC-NW became operational in Mikkeli, together with Finnish Army Command, on 1 September. A Finnish Army spokesperson told Janes on 7 October that operations began with 10 branch and section heads from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, the United States, and Finland. Over the next few years, their strength will increase to about 50 personnel, he said, adding that the core staff element is led by Norwegian Army Colonel Ove Staurset.

Speaking at the MCLCC-NW's inauguration, Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said, “As a response to the dangerous state of the international security situation, we are now renewing and strengthening NATO with unprecedented strength. The MCLCC 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.” The command is tasked with the command-and-control of NATO's land forces and synchronising national land forces' operations in the alliance's northern area, including planning, preparing, and directing NATO's combined training exercise activity, according to the Finnish Army.