International cooperation
The stability of the Baltic Sea Region is important to the security of the Finnish people. The Finnish Navy participates constantly and in versatile ways in activities which strengthen the security and stability of the Baltic Sea Region.
International cooperation has been an integral part of the Navy’s activities all through the history of the Service. Modern cooperation has been evolving since the 1990s when Finland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace Programme and cooperation with the Swedish Navy started to become closer. Forms of cooperation pursued with Sweden and other current NATO Allies had become seamless even before Finland became a member of NATO.
Today, international cooperation is a regular part of the Navy’s everyday activities; combined exercises, training or port visits are conducted almost on a weekly basis.
NATO’s Maritime Groups
The Navy has practised for years with Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) and Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group One (SNMCMG1). Both SNMG1 and SNMCMG1 have participated i.a. in the Navy’s main exercises Freezing Winds held in the autumn.
In April 2024, the deepening cooperation allowed, for the first time, mine countermeasures vessel Vahterpää to be placed under the command of Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 for two months by the Transfer of Authority (TOA) procedure. Vahterpää operated as a part of SNMCMG1 in the Baltic Sea, North Sea and the Norwegian Sea taking part in drills and clearing explosives from the past wars on the bottom of the sea. Read more about the period Vahterpää served in SNMCMG1.
In addition, the Navy trains with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 and Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 also when they are moving in areas close to Finland or make port visits to Finland.
JEF – Joint Expeditionary Force
The Navy takes actively part in the activities of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, JEF. JEF is a UK-led combined multilateral defence cooperation framework of ten countries which Finland joined in summer 2017. As recently as in summer 2024, the Navy took part in JEF Operation Nordic Warden which focused on monitoring critical underwater infrastructure.
Bilateral cooperation
The Navy has conducted particularly close cooperation with Sweden for long. This so-called FISE cooperation deepened in both the naval and coastal units through combined exercises and personnel exchange.
Cooperation with the Estonian Navy has become notably stronger in the past years. Among other things, combined exercises and exchange of personnel enhance the ability to operate together efficiently.
What is more, the Navy pursues close cooperation in the domain of generation of international recognized maritime picture with Sweden (SUCFIS), the Baltic States (SUCBAS) and European Union States (MARSUR). Finland is a forerunner in sharing the common situational picture generated by authorities, and this successful cooperation has raised worldwide attention.
Our peacekeepers work in crisis areas around the world to improve security. Finnish peacekeepers serve in operations led by, for example, the UN, EU and NATO. The Finnish Navy is in national command of the European Union-led Operation EUNAVFORMED IRINI. The Finnish Navy is also involved in two operations in the Red Sea: EUNAVFOR operation Aspides and operation Prosperity Guardian.