The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countrieshave kicked off military exercises with a pledge to defend their newest member, Finland, which is hosting its first joint training in the Arctic region since becoming part of the Western alliance in April. Nearly 1,000 allied forces from Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States as well as NATO applicant Sweden joined approximately 6,500 Finnish troops and some 1,000 vehicles for exercises this week, which mark Finlands biggest modern-time land-force drill above the Arctic Circle.

by

Overseeing NATO exercises just a two-hour drive from the Russian border at one of Europes largest artillery training grounds in Rovajarvi, northern Finland, US Army Major-General Gregory Anderson from the 10th Mountain Division said his country stood ready to defend Finland.Some 150 aircraft from 14 NATO members and partner countries are also participating in Arctic Challenge 2023 exercises, according to NATO Air Command.