Colonel Riku Mikkonen on Finland’s Military Engineering and NATO Role

Colonel Riku Mikkonen, Inspector of CBRN and Engineering for the Finnish Army, explains how Finland’s unique northern conditions—frozen soil, harsh winters, and vast forests—shape military engineering operations. He discusses Finland’s fortification systems, the balance between traditional counter-mobility tools like simple mines and future unmanned technologies, and the value of contractors and reservists with civilian expertise in national defense. Colonel Mikkonen also highlights Finland’s large-scale exercises, which integrate conscripts, industry, and allied forces, reflecting a total defense approach and evolving NATO role.