Vesa Mäntylä

Colonel Vesa Mäntylä serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Finnish Air Force Command, where he plays a crucial role in enhancing Finland's air defense strategies, especially in collaboration with neighboring Sweden. Recently, he was in the news for his comments on the joint air patrol mission conducted by Finnish and Swedish fighters to intercept a squadron of Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, emphasizing the importance of their strengthened defense cooperation in response to rising geopolitical tensions.