Finland signed an agreement on Monday to strengthen its military cooperation with the United States, the day after a warning from Vladimir Putin announcing a Russian military reinforcement in response to the Scandinavian country’s entry into NATO.
The agreement, which formalizes closer ties between Washington and Helsinki, was hailed by the Finnish Defense Minister as “a strong sign of the United States’ commitment to the defense of Finland and all of Europe North “.
“We do not expect the United States to take care of the defense of Finland,” added Antti Hakkanen. “But this agreement significantly improves our ability to act together in all situations,” he said again during the signing of the agreement in the American capital alongside the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken.
Finland, which repelled a Soviet invasion in the winter of 1939-1940, for decades avoided joining NATO for fear of antagonizing its giant neighbor. But their relations have deteriorated considerably since February 2022, and the Russian offensive in Ukraine led Finland, worried about its security, to join NATO in April 2023.
On Sunday, Vladimir Putin accused the West of having “dragged Finland into NATO” and asserted that this membership would create “problems” where there “were none”.
The Russian president also announced the creation of a Russian military district near Finland, while the two countries share a border 1,340 kilometers long.
The US Secretary of State said that Finland “knows almost better than anyone what is at stake for Ukraine.”
“In 1939, the Finns also faced a Russian invasion and proved that a free nation can put up an incredibly powerful resistance,” Antony Blinken said.
“Your story also reminds us why it is so important that we all continue to support Ukraine,” he added.
Mr. Blinken and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen renewed their support for the entry into NATO of Sweden, which launched its candidacy alongside Finland but whose membership process is for moment delayed by Turkey.