The Finnish government has unveiled the terms of its Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States, a document which the two countries are scheduled to sign in Washington next week.
At a press conference announcing the agreement's details on Thursday, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (NCP) described the agreement as being of huge significance for Finland.
The Finnish government has proposed that the president authorise Häkkänen or — if he is unable — Foreign Affairs Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) to sign the DCA on Monday next week.
"The Defence Cooperation Agreement we are about to sign will further deepen the bilateral alliance between Finland and the United States. It will strengthen Finland’s security and defence and enable cooperation in all security situations. The DCA has also regional importance, and it will help Finland contribute to Nato’s collective defence efforts," Valtonen said in a government press release.
The government noted that the DCA would strengthen Finland's defence "because it enables the presence and training of US forces and the prepositioning of defence material in the territory of Finland".
In relation to nuclear weapons, Häkkänen confirmed that the DCA does not override Finnish legislation, which prohibits the storage and transportation of nuclear weapons on Finnish soil.
"Of course, there is an entry to ensure that valid Finnish law is being followed," Häkkänen stated.
He also added that the DCA would not have been possible without Finland's close defence cooperation with the US, which began in the early 1990s.
"The signature of the DCA is not the end point, but a new step towards even closer cooperation between the defence administrations of Finland and the United States. The agreement reflects the United States’ commitment to Finland’s security and it creates the conditions for cooperation in times of crises. Finland is not alone in defending itself, but does so as a Nato ally and together with the United States," Häkkänen said in the release.
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