Finland is now negotiating a defense cooperation agreement (DCA) with the US that will make possible regular US military deployments on the country’s border with Russia. The proposed agreement, which comes in the wake of Finland’s accession to NATO, would permit the presence of foreign troops for extended periods, specifically for conventional military exercises, Yle reported on Aug. 13. The agreement’s primary aim is to grant US military personnel access to facilities and areas within Finland for training, weapons storage, and equipment maintenance. This includes the potential use of airports, harbors, and designated training zones. It is likely that the US military would be granted access to at least one airport and harbor, as well as a training area. The Finnish Defense Forces’ (FDF) existing barracks or locations in close proximity might be allocated for US use.
“This marks a highly significant shift in Finland’s security policy,” said Iro Särkkä, a senior researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA). “Never before in peacetime has Finland hosted foreign troops for extended periods. Now, all barriers to practical cooperation between Finland and the United States are being removed.”
