Facing a growing threat of Russian aggression, Sweden and Finland are reinforcing their defences and investing heavily in their militaries. Both have come to the stark realisation that U.S. support, once assumed, can no longer be taken for granted.
As reported by the Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, the two nations have established a brand-new assault brigade made up of around 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers, to be stationed in Finnish Lapland. A key element of this new force comes from Sweden’s mechanised Norrbotten Brigade, which has long experience operating and fighting in some of the harshest winter conditions in Europe. Altogether, the brigade will be structured around five battalions with additional supporting units to ensure operational strength.
According to Iltalehti, “Aiming to speed up the brigade’s combat readiness, weapons and equipment have been pre-deployed in Lapland. This includes Sweden’s Archer self-propelled howitzers, which can strike targets up to 50 kilometres away.” In addition to the new brigade, between 5,000 and 7,000 Finnish troops are set to be permanently stationed in the region, underscoring Helsinki’s focus on shoring up defences against Moscow.
The Ukrainian outlet Censor.net argues that the new Finnish-Swedish brigade is roughly on par with Russian units deployed in the north. As Ukrainska Pravda put it: “Finland is preparing to defend itself against a possible Russian attack in such a way that even if the United States does not uphold NATO’s Article 5 — the alliance’s collective defence clause — it will still be able to withstand an invasion.”
Behind the scenes, however, unease remains. According to sources cited by the Finnish daily Iltalehti, debates over trust in Article 5 and the Trump administration’s commitment to Europe’s defence are playing out at every level of Finnish politics and government. “Instead of indulging in speeches and lamentations, we need to focus on concrete actions,” the outlet warned. This mindset has translated into a clear policy shift: Finland is beefing up its defences along the Russian border, determined not to be caught off guard.
Just across the border in Petrozavodsk, roughly 160 kilometres from Finland, Russia is expanding its bases to set up a new military command that could, within a few years, command tens of thousands of troops. European intelligence services and analysts say the buildup looks like preparation for a future war with NATO.
Meanwhile, Russian drones spotted over Estonia, Sweden and Poland are stirring uneasy memories in Finland — recalling the country’s brutal war with Moscow in 1939. Against that backdrop, Finnish MEP Mika Aaltola has been blunt: if war breaks out, Finland is ready to mobilise as many as 1 million people.
