The Commander of Joint Force Command Norfolk visited Finland

The commander of NATO's Joint Force Command Norfolk, Vice Admiral Doug Perry, visited Finland from December 3 to 6, 2025. The visit was hosted by the Finnish Defence Forces' Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Lieutenant General Kari Nisula.

During the visit, Vice Admiral Doug Perry familiarized himself with Finland's defense system and capabilities, as well as the military situation and operational environment in the region. Vice Admiral Perry visited, among other places, the Finnish Air Force in Tikkakoski and the headquarters of the Border Guard and the Hybrid Centre of Excellence in Helsinki.

According to Lieutenant General Kari Nisula, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Finnish Defence Forces, Vice Admiral Perry's visit was significant for Finland.

- It is valuable to familiarize oneself with the special characteristics of the Finnish area and our capabilities together with the commander of the Joint Force Command. This provides an opportunity to jointly examine how preparations for collective defense are made in the northern region, as well as the actions that make NATO's operations stronger and more ready.

- Interoperability is about aligning national systems so that forces, logistics, and information can move seamlessly across borders. Finland plays a key role in NATO's overall security and visits such as this are important to witness firsthand the professionalism and interoperability of Finland's defence force, the specific knowledge of the region and the unique resources Finland brings to NATO, says Admiral Doug Perry, Commander, JFC Norfolk

Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk [https://jfcnorfolk.nato.int/]) is a NATO operational headquarters focused on the Atlantic area and Northern Europe. It plans, executes, and supports alliance military operations and enhances security in the northern and Arctic regions. Additionally, JFC Norfolk protects strategic maritime routes in all operational environments and ensures sea lines of communication between Europe and North America.

JFC Norfolk operates in close cooperation with the United States Navy's Second Fleet, with Vice Admiral Perry also serving as the commander of the US Navy's Second Fleet.