The US military will have access to 15 bases and training areas in Finland in the future. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen signed a corresponding agreement in Washington yesterday. This still needs to be approved by the Finnish Parliament before it comes into force.
Russia criticized the planned strengthening of defense cooperation between its northwestern neighbor Finland and the US last week. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin also stated that the Leningrad Military District would now be built around the metropolis of Saint Petersburg and certain military units would be stationed there.
Finland only gave up its decades-long freedom from military alliances under the impression of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The country borders Russia to the east for a length of 1,340 kilometers. The US recently concluded a similar agreement with Sweden, under which it will be authorized to use 17 Swedish military facilities in the future.