Finland to Open 15 Military Bases for Use by the United States

The Finnish government has unveiled a bilateral agreement with the United States on military cooperation, negotiations for which concluded in October. The document includes provisions for the opening of 15 facilities in the country for use by U.S. forces, as reported by the Finnish publication KSML.

The agreement, known by the acronym DCA (Defense Cooperation Agreement), was presented during a government meeting by the Minister of Defence, Antti Häkkänen, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen. The signing of the agreement is scheduled for December 18 in the United States. The official approval from Finland's side will follow a parliamentary decision, expected in the spring, according to local media reports.

All the designated zones in the agreement are military facilities suitable for operations by ground, naval, and air forces. The bases open for U.S. use include Rovaniemi Air Base, Kuopio-Rissala Air Base, Tampere-Pirkkala Air Base, Jyvaskyla-Tikkakoski Air Base, Upinniemi Naval Base, the garrison area of Vekarajarvi, and other facilities.

"In crisis situations, we will be able to take concrete actions," commented the Minister of Defence, Antti Häkkänen, on the agreement.

Among other things, the agreement streamlines military cooperation and training between the Finnish and U.S. forces under NATO, allowing the movement of troops and equipment within Finland without the need for high-level approval as previously required. Additionally, the agreement regulates various legal aspects of the presence of U.S. military personnel in Finland.

The document does not currently specify the number of U.S. military and civilian personnel that will be stationed in Finland. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, the United States will have primary jurisdiction over its soldiers and civilians deployed in Finland.

Earlier, The Gaze reported that the Finnish Minister of Defence, Antti Häkkänen, decided to increase local production capabilities of ammunition to be able to support Ukraine for an extended period. The ministry pledged to invest approximately 24 million euros in expanding the production of large-caliber ammunition and secure long-term orders from the Finnish industry, enabling the sector to invest independently.