The Swedish Navy’s Visby-class corvette HSwMS Helsingborg is operating under Finnish Navy command as part of Finland’s surveillance and protection of its territorial waters.
The deployment, taking place during week 40, is part of strengthened cooperation between the Finnish Defense Forces and Sweden. Finnish authorities said the cooperation with Sweden strengthens security in the North and on NATO’s eastern flank, while improving the two countries’ ability to operate together in peacetime, during disruptions and in emergency situations.
The Finnish and Swedish navies have conducted close cooperation for a long period of time already. The cooperation carried out now in the surveillance and protection of Finland’s territorial integrity is a new step forward in the direction of ever deepening cooperation.
Operating together with the Swedish Navy, the Finnish Navy widens its practical cooperation models with the aim of improving the compilation of a recognized maritime picture and protection of territorial integrity.
"The first time around, we look for lessons and create well-working practices by means of operating together. This way, we lower the threshold for conducting similar and other demanding tasks in the future when the need arises," Chief of Operations, Navy Command, Captain (Navy) Johan Tillander said.
Sweden’s maritime deployment allows the Finnish Navy’s own vessels to be directed to other tasks. All activities conducted with Sweden are based on joint recognized maritime picture.
"The Finnish and Swedish maritime operations centres exchange data on a daily basis. In the cooperation in the domain of surveillance of Finland’s territory, Swedish vessels have the same peacetime powers as Finnish vessels, including the use of military force. In all situations, the cooperation is commanded by a member of the Finnish regular military personnel with national peacetime powers," Tillander added.