Finland, US Sign Defense Agreement Against Russian Warnings

Published on December 18, 2023

Finland and the United States are signing a defense cooperation agreement that will grant the U.S. military broad access to the Nordic nation. The bilateral defense cooperation agreement (DCA) would allow the United States to deliver swift military access and aid to Finland in the event of a conflict in Europe, officials said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen signed the agreement on Dec. 18, hailing the document as a leap forward in bilateral security issues. “Today, we will further strengthen our security bonds by signing a defense cooperation agreement,” Mr. Blinken said. “When it goes into effect, our militaries will be able to cooperate more efficiently and more effectively. Our troops will have more opportunities to train together, and we will bolster NATO’s interoperability.”...

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