A photo of the closed Vaalimaa border station between Finland and Russia taken in December 2023. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
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Speaking at a news conference, Hakkanen said the centre, which NATO calls Multi Corps Land Component Command, will operate under the alliance's US-based Norfolk Joint Force Command and jointly with Finland's own land force command that is located in Mikkeli, about two hour's drive from the Finnish-Russian border.
The unit will initially have an annual budget of 9.5 million USD and consist of a few dozen international officials.