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Finland Greenlights Billion-Euro NATO Rail Link to Arctic Port for Countering Russia

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Vlad Litnarovych
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Finland Greenlights Billion-Euro NATO Rail Link to Arctic Port for Countering Russia
Mountain infantry units of the German Armed Forces are taking part in the NATO maneuvers “Nordic Response 2024”, which are taking place in the Norwegian Arctic, on March 7, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

Finland has approved a major infrastructure project to develop a railway connection through Sweden to the Norwegian port of Narvik—a strategic move aimed at strengthening NATO’s military mobility in the region, Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reported on April 23.

The project, which would allow the rapid transfer of NATO troops and heavy equipment if necessary, has entered the planning phase with a €20 million budget allocation. The full cost is expected to reach several billion euros.

The proposed rail route will link the Finnish ports of Oulu and Kemi, crossing the border at Tornio into Haparanda on the Swedish side. From there, the railway will extend through the mining town of Kiruna, with Narvik as the final destination.

As Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications Lulu Ranne previously stated, the project comes in response to “the growing Russian threat.”

The line, which will use the EU-standard narrower track gauge, will enable tanks and artillery from NATO arsenals to be transported into Finland. The country is also preparing to host NATO troops starting in 2026.

According to Ranne, the European Commission had “put pressure” on Helsinki regarding the track gauge conversion. “The NATO Commission, the European Commission, and the armed forces assessed that this could become the first and most urgent major European military mobility project,” she said, referring to the new railway connecting Finland, Sweden, and Norway.

Deputy Commander Ari Mure of Finland’s Lapland Jaeger Brigade also stressed the importance of compatible railway infrastructure: “Compatible railways are critical for transporting heavy military equipment, especially in emergencies.”

The project aligns with the upcoming EU regulation on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), set to take effect next summer. The regulation includes provisions requiring countries to adopt the standard European track gauge of 1,435 mm. Finland’s current rail gauge is 1,524 mm—similar to Russia’s 1,520 mm.

Beyond defense considerations, the rail line is expected to benefit Finland’s export industry and tourism sector. It will also offer Finnish travelers convenient train access to northern Norway and Swedish regions.

Earlier, Russian leader Vladimir Putin stated at the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk that the strategic importance of the Arctic is increasing globally and said that geopolitical rivalry in the region is intensifying.

He accused NATO countries of viewing the Arctic as a potential staging ground for future military conflicts. “NATO countries see the Far North as a springboard for possible conflicts,” Putin said.

Putin stressed that Russia posed no threat in the Arctic but made clear that Moscow would act to protect its sovereignty. “We do not threaten anyone in the Arctic, but we are monitoring the situation and will not allow any encroachments on our sovereignty,” he stated.

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