US and Finland have started working on a mutual agreement on cooperation in defence. This agreement includes, among other things, the creation of US military bases in Finland, as confirmed by deputy head of the Finnish Foreign Ministry’s political department Mikael Antel.
The text is almost complete, said the official, adding that the presence of US forces will help strengthen Finland’s defensive potential. The mutual agreement will allow US troops to stay in Finland, station military equipment and materials, as well as invest into infrastructure from the funds the US Congress provides the Pentagon.
The agreement will not cover nuclear arms.
Negotiations between Finland and US on the official level will continue until next year. Then the project will be submitted to the parliament for review. US is currently engaged in similar talks for cooperation with Sweden and Denmark. The agreement with Norway was signed in 2021.
On the 4th of April Finland became the 31st member state of NATO. Sweden is on its way to become a new member of NATO. However, Turkey and Hungary have yet to ratify its entry.
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