By Leila Nezirevic
LONDON (AA) - The Finnish government announced Thursday that it will sign a defense military agreement with the US to strengthen its security and defense in case of conflict.
The two countries are scheduled to sign the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in Washington on Monday, Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said at a news conference and indicated that the deal is of huge significance for Finland.
"The Defense Cooperation Agreement we are about to sign will further deepen the bilateral alliance between Finland and the United States,” Foreign Affairs Minister Elina Valtonen said in a statement. “It will strengthen Finland’s security and defense and enable cooperation in all security situations.”
She stressed that the DCA is of regional importance and will help Finland "contribute to NATO's collective defense efforts."
The US will be able to use 15 facilities on Finnish soil where its military will have unrestricted access and be able to store military equipment and ammunition.
Authorities said the pact would strengthen Finland's security because “it enables the presence and training of US forces and the prepositioning of defense material in the territory of Finland."
Hakkanen confirmed that the deal does not override Finnish legislation, which forbids the storage and transportation of nuclear weapons on Finnish territory.
He emphasized that the new deal is a step that will ensure further cooperation between the two countries and it reflects “the United States’ commitment to Finland’s security.”
“Finland is not alone in defending itself but does so as a NATO ally and together with the United States," said Hakkanen, adding that the DCA ensures conditions for cooperation in times of crises.
Finland. which shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) long border with Russia, became the latest NATO member earlier this year after Russia began its “special military operation” in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.