Finland: Armed forces took over the old paper mill

Located in the port of Kemi, the warehouse will besides service NATO allies, including the US Army, if necessary. On the basis of the Defence Cooperation Agreement concluded at the end of 2023, just over half a year after Finland's accession to NATO (4 April 2023), respective military areas, including airports and ports in various parts of the country, will be made available to the American forces from the Gulf of Finland to Laponia.

The magazine was solemnly opened on Tuesday and became the operational office of the recently formed 3rd logistics regiment. According to Yle radio, it is simply a historical decision, as the armed forces have not launched a logistics base in a fresh location since the 1970s.

– The fresh magazine will even better prepare Finland for defence if the situation requires, but we hope that the accumulated supplies will never be needed," said Colonel Kalle Leinen.

In the hall it is possible to store not only weapons, but besides vehicles. However, according to the authoritative defensive administration communication, explosives will not be stored in the warehouse.

The Finnish army is based on universal compulsory military service for men and a broad reserve. For wartime, the size of the armed forces is estimated to be 280 000 soldiers, whose condition is supplemented, if necessary, by reserve forces presently numbering about 870 000 people. At the beginning of 2026, the advanced limit of the reserve age was raised (from the present 50 years to 65 years of life). Due to this change in 2031 the reserve in
The 5.5 millionth country will emergence to about a million.