Sweden will deploy Gripen fighter jets, naval vessels, and military personnel to Finland to assist in defending Finnish territory until at least the end of 2026, the Finnish Defense Forces announced on Friday, Aug. 28.
According to Reuters, deployment is expected to enhance air and sea surveillance, allowing the Finnish military to free up its own resources. In addition to aircraft and warships, Sweden is also considering the transfer of anti-drone systems to its eastern neighbor.
“Sweden has responded to Finland’s request to strengthen air defense in connection with the deteriorating security situation,” Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said, adding that Swedish forces will assist in repelling attacks on Finnish territory if necessary.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen stated that all Swedish forces will operate under Finnish command and in accordance with Finnish law. The two nations agreed to deepen cooperation specifically in detecting and countering unmanned aerial vehicles to secure the region’s territorial integrity.
Häkkänen highlighted that the risk of reconnaissance drones remains acute due to Russia’s war against Ukraine, noting that drones could inadvertently or intentionally cross into Finland during Ukrainian attacks on Russian military targets.
The last recorded incident of an unidentified drone near the Russian border in Finland occurred in early May, marking the fifth such occurrence.
Airspace violations and escalation risks
The bilateral defense agreement follows a series of suspected Russian incursions into Finnish airspace. On Aug. 21, Finland’s defense ministry reported a suspected airspace violation by a Russian aircraft, prompting an ongoing investigation.
Finnish authorities also suspected two Russian military aircraft of entering the country’s airspace in May and June, leading Helsinki to summon the Russian chargé d’affaires.
Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, has remained on high alert since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war prompted the country to abandon its decades-long policy of military non-alignment and officially join the NATO alliance in April 2023.
Amid the deepening military and technological cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, Finnish President Alexander Stubb recently emphasized that the broader risk of military escalation remains a serious concern for the region.
Stubb noted earlier in August that while Chinese officials have offered firm assurances that Russia will not resort to using nuclear weapons, the international community must remain vigilant about the conflict’s trajectory and take the danger of escalation seriously.