Spain Deploys Mountain Troops to Finland for NATO Mission

Spain is deploying mountain troops to Finland as part of its NATO commitment, with the Finnish Jaeger Brigade hosting the military personnel in the coming weeks.

## A mission that began in Ankara

**Pedro Sánchez** announced the Spanish deployment to Finland during the NATO summit held in Ankara. Discretion has characterized the preparations. The Alliance has confirmed to **EL MUNDO** that Spain will provide soldiers from the Army, specifically units attached to the **Mountain Troops Command**.

The decision is formalized at the NATO Force Generation Conference, a technical mechanism where member states calculate and commit troops, vehicles, and logistical resources. Spain fits this contribution within the capabilities that Sánchez says he can fund with an investment of **2%** of GDP in Defense.

## Finland, in NATO since 2023

**Finland** joined NATO in **2023**, after applying for membership the previous year. For Spain, this mission involves rotating for the first time in the Nordic country. The **Jaeger** brigade, a land forces unit, will be the base hosting the Spanish military in the coming weeks.

King **Felipe VI** will visit on Wednesday the Lapland Air Force Wing of the Finnish Air Force and the Land Forces Base of the Jaeger Brigade. It is the first time in a state visit that the Monarch includes a military agenda.

## The spending tug-of-war

Sánchez has maintained that he can fund his commitments with **2%** of GDP and no more. Other partners, such as **Donald Trump**, are pressing to raise that figure. The King's visit responds to the need to show Spain as a reliable ally on the Alliance's northeastern flank.

The Spanish deployment occurs while NATO strengthens its presence in Northern Europe. Spain thus seeks to consolidate its contribution to the Alliance's missions with an unprecedented rotation in Finnish territory.