10/15/2025
National Guard, Nordic partnerships bolster European defenses
OSLO, Norway — The National Guard Bureau’s top leaders traveled to Finland, Sweden and Norway last week as part of a series of Northern European country visits to strengthen the Guard’s security cooperation ties in the Nordic region.
Each nation hosted Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, for meetings with defense and military leaders to discuss deepening longtime and new partnerships and how to continue strengthening European and global security.
Accompanying Nordhaus and Raines were the adjutants general of the states partnered with each Nordic nation through the Department of War National Guard State Partnership Program: Army Maj. Gen. James Ring, Virginia National Guard; Army Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields, New York National Guard; and Army Maj. Gen. Shawn P. Manke, Minnesota National Guard.
“These key strategic partnerships ensure we will strengthen our collective defenses along Europe’s northern flank,” said Nordhaus, who visited the Nordic region for the first time as CNGB and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “As we deepen our defense cooperation, we look forward to building partner capacity and sharing the burden of global security together.”
While Norway is a founding member of NATO, dating back to 1949, Finland and Sweden have historically adhered to a policy of military non-alignment, maintaining robust national defense capabilities while opting out of formal alliances.
However, Finland and Sweden ended their longstanding policies of neutrality after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, prompting each nation’s accession to NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
In addition to a now unified NATO front that is fundamentally reshaping the security dynamics of the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions, all three Nordic nations have entered security cooperation partnerships with the U.S. over the past two years through the SPP.
Initially developed in 1993 to assist countries emerging from behind the Iron Curtain, the SPP has grown to include 115 nations partnered with every U.S. state, three territories and the District of Columbia — including the Finland-Virginia, Sweden-New York and Norway-Minnesota partnerships.
“Cold-weather warfare, Arctic operations and maritime security are just a few of the areas where our Nordic partners excel,” said Raines. “Through the State Partnership Program, our Guardsmen are building on decades of existing friendships and partnerships. We are forging a path for our Guard members to learn even more from their counterparts’ expertise while sharing our own. Together, we raise the readiness of our nations and NATO as a whole."
Beginning their multi-nation visit in Finland, Nordhaus and Raines familiarized themselves with the nation’s defense capabilities and ways to deepen Finland and Virginia’s budding SPP relationship.
Of the three countries, Finland shares the longest border with Russia — about 835 miles.
“It is significant that the Chief of the United States National Guard Bureau visits Finland in the current security situation,” Finnish Lt. Gen. Vesa Virtanen, chief, Defence Command, Finland, said in a release. “The visit offered an opportunity for in-depth conversations on current issues and opportunities for further deepening our cooperation. At the same time, it is important that we can offer our important ally an insight into the Finnish defence system and into our national defence principles.”
Finland maintains a large pool of trained reserve military forces of approximately 870,000 personnel, which is significant considering the nation’s relatively small population, to bolster its active-duty military of around 24,000 personnel. In times of crisis, Finland can mobilize up to 280,000 troops accustomed to the country’s heavily forested terrain and equipped with extensive experience in Arctic operations.
“The foundations of this partnership go back to 2001 when members of the Finnish Defense Forces served with the Virginia National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division during the Stabilization Force 10 rotation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2001-2002,” Ring said. “We formed enduring friendships with our Finnish counterparts, and Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have trained with Finnish military personnel on many occasions over the years, resulting in deep professional and personal bonds.”
“I have no doubt our future engagements will result in increased readiness for the VANG and our Finnish counterparts. As military allies and partners, we are stronger together.”
