HELSINKI: The Finnish Parliament on Monday unanimously ratified a crucial Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States, which will allow enhanced US military presence and storage of defence material in the European country.
The DCA, signed by the Finnish government in December, aims to enhance Finland’s defence capabilities by facilitating increased US military presence and the storage of defence material within Finnish territory. This agreement comes in the wake of Finland’s decision to join NATO in April 2023, spurred by concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
With Finland sharing a 1,340-kilometre (830-mile) border with Russia, the country’s strategic alignment with Western defence alliances has contributed to escalating tensions with its eastern neighbour.
Key provisions of the agreement include granting the United States access to 15 military bases across Finland, enabling the deployment and training of US forces, as well as the prepositioning of defence equipment. The pact also outlines mechanisms for enhanced cooperation between Finland and the US during crisis situations, underscoring mutual security interests.
Similar to the contentious debate in Sweden regarding its DCA-agreement, Finnish lawmakers addressed concerns about potential nuclear weapons deployment. They ensured that national laws prohibiting the import and transit of nuclear weapons on Finnish soil would be strictly upheld under the terms of the agreement.
Both the government and the Foreign Affairs Committee emphasized that the DCA respects Finland’s sovereignty, domestic legislation, and international obligations. The Committee’s chairperson, MP Kimmo Kiljunen of the Social Democratic Party, described the agreement’s adoption as a “historic moment” during the parliamentary session.
“The objective of this agreement, much like Finland’s NATO membership, is to strengthen the security of our nation and our people,” stated Kiljunen, highlighting the agreement’s strategic importance.
The United States has previously entered into similar Defence Cooperation Agreements with 11 other NATO member countries, including Finland’s Nordic neighbors Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
