NATO to Establish Northern Land Command in Eastern Finland
NATO will set up a new land command in Finland near the Russian border next year (2025), tasked with leading the alliance's land force operations in northern Europe in the event of a military conflict, the Finnish Defence Minister said.
Finland joined the NATO alliance last year, in response to neighbouring Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022, and is organising the alliance's presence on its territory.
The centre, which NATO calls Multi Corps Land Component Command, will operate under the alliance's U.S.-based Norfolk Joint Force Command and jointly with Finland's own land force command that is already located in Mikkeli, about two hour's drive from the Finnish-Russian border.
Oct 01, 2024
Far Right in Austria 'Opens New Era' with Election Victory
A far-right party founded by former Nazis won the most votes in Austria's election, in a result that could reshape Europe's political landscape and help tilt the balance of power between Russia and the West.
The pro-Russia, anti-immigration Freedom Party, or FPÖ, finished first with 29.2% of the vote, according to near-complete results.
It appears to have knocked the ruling conservative Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP), or Austrian People's Party, into second place, with 26.5% of the vote. The Social Democratic Party of Austria finished third, scoring its worst ever result with 21%.
Austria joined a long list of countries across Europe where the far-right now wields considerable power after making gains this summer in Germany, France and the Netherlands.
The FPÖ's victory, its first ever, is the latest sign that a movement characterised by anti-immigrant and anti-Islam sentiment has made a breakthrough in the continent.