Helsinki, 31 October 2023
Latest round of negotiations for a new Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Finland and the United States were held in Helsinki from 30 to 31 October.
Finland opened negotiations with the United States on a new bilateral agreement in August 2022. Finland’s delegation for the negotiations was appointed by the President of the Republic and led by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs under the guidance of the President of the Republic and the Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy. The Finnish Parliament has received regular reports on the progress and contents of the negotiations.
“The negotiations were held in a collaborative spirit. This draft agreement will now proceed to the political process,” says Finland’s Chief Negotiator Mikael Antell, Deputy Director General at the Foreign Ministry.
The text of the agreement will be final only upon signature. The agreement will become a public document once it is signed. Its entry into force is subject to approval by Parliament.
The United States is one of Finland’s most important allies, and concluding the Defence Cooperation Agreement is one of the objectives laid down in the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government. The aim of the DCA is to clarify the framework for cooperation with an important ally and to allow the parties to deepen their cooperation in all security situations. In this way, the DCA will strengthen Finland’s security also as a member of NATO.
Source – Finnish Government