Finland has proposed to host a NATO reconnaissance drone base for monitoring the Russian border, as reported by Yle on November 9.
NATO’s plans for the base are in early stages, but there is a recognized need within the Alliance for a surveillance hub in Northern Europe.
The Finnish Air Force has identified four possible sites, with Pirkkala emerging as the most likely location.
Currently, NATO reconnaissance drones operate from Italy and conduct intelligence-gathering missions in Finnish airspace along the eastern border.
In August, a U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk drone carried out surveillance near Russia’s Saint Petersburg and Murmansk, followed by an RC-135U Combat Sent reconnaissance aircraft.
A decision on the base’s location is anticipated next year.
This proposal comes amid wider European defense discussions, with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden recently suggesting the need for a European army, expressing concerns over potential security impacts if Donald Trump returns to the U.S. presidency.
