Visit of United States Armed Forces logistics leadership in Finland strengthenes interoperability

Representatives of the United States Joint Staff, USJS and of the U.S. military branches’ logistics leadership visited Finland 7–9 August 2025. The visit was hosted by the Defence Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics and Armaments, Lieutenant General Jari Mikkonen.

The visit deepened the bilateral defence cooperation between Finland and the United States by strengthening logistics interoperability. Finnish experts presented the special features of Finland’s logistics system from the northern circumstances perspective to the Americans. During the visit, the Americans familiarized themselves with the northern Area of Operations and Finnish winter equipment. 

The Defence Cooperation Agreement between Finland and the United States, DCA, which entered into force last year, provides a framework for the presence and training of U.S. forces in Finland. The visit familiarized the Americans also with the areas and assets on which the cooperation between Finland and the United States mainly focuses according to the agreement.

The Defence Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Logistics and Armaments, Lieutenant General Jari Mikkonen considers the visit to be a concrete step in the strengthening of logistics interoperability and as a part of the implementation of the DCA in practise. 

– The defence cooperation between Finland and the United States keeps deepening constantly also in the field of logistics. Logistics has to be fluent and compatible, otherwise the big picture won’t work. The northern circumstances, the cold and long winters, for example, pose their special requirements on know-how and solutions. During the visit, we also examined the areas and facilities in joint use as specified in the DCA. Having thorough knowledge of them is essential from the point of view of the fluency of even ordinary, everyday cooperation. I wish to express my thanks to our American colleagues for their interest and commitment to developing our cooperation, Lieutenant General Mikkonen said. 

– Increased interoperability through collaborative logistics planning and execution is crucial for effective combined operations in the High North. Our partnership with Finland will allow us to seamlessly integrate our logistics capabilities, enhancing our readiness and ability to respond to a wide range of contingencies together, stated Vice Admiral Dion D. English, Director for Logistics (J-4) of the Joint Staff.

Coordination of logistics activities is bilateral; at the moment, a unit from Karelia Brigade is currently participating in an exercise in the United States under desert conditions, where logistics and support in challenging environments are a central part of the unit’s operations. At the same time, American military personnel are training Finnish soldiers in Karelia Brigade to use and maintain American equipment. 

_{During the second half of the year, the United States will take extensively part in military presence and training activities in Finland and the Baltic Sea region. Read more in our press release published on 5 August 2025.}