HELSINKI: Finland will sign a defence agreement next week giving the United States access to 15 military bases in Nato’s newest member, the Finnish defence ministry said on Friday.

“The Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) is to be signed in Washington” on Monday by Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the foreign affairs ministry said.

The treaty must then be approved by the Nordic country’s parliament.

“The DCA will streng­then Finland’s defence because it enables the presence and training of US forces and the pre-positioning of defence material in the territory of Finland,” the foreign ministry continued.

“It will also support the implementation of Nato’s deterrence and defence.”

Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen will be present in Washington during the signing to meet Blinken.

The United States signed a similar pact with Sweden on Dec 6 that gives Washington access to 17 military bases.

Concerns raised by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led both Finland and Sweden to abandon their long-standing military non-alignment and apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2023