Russia warns Finland over deal to strengthen military ties with US

Tensions that Moscow said had been put to bed between Finland and Russia are heating up again after Finland signed a defense cooperation agreement (DCA) with the U.S. Finland and Russia share a long border and have a troubled history, most notably the 1939 Winter War, when Finland repelled an invasion by the militarily superior Soviet Union.

President Vladimir Putin is warning of what he calls “problems” with Finland now that it has joined NATO. Over the weekend, Putin said Moscow would concentrate military units near the border.

On Monday, Dec. 18, the U.S. and Finland solidified an agreement to bolster military cooperation, which gives the U.S. wide access to territory along the Finland-Russia border. U.S. and Finland officials said the deal is a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

“Finland knows almost better than anyone what is at stake for Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. “In 1939, the fins also faced a Russian invasion and proved that a free nation can put up an incredibly powerful and resilient resistance.”

Blinken also said that Russia almost certainly won’t stop with Ukraine, concerns that have spread across Europe after Russia’s invasion. Though Putin recently dismissed that idea, calling similar remarks by President Biden “complete nonsense.”

Signed on Monday, the DCA allows the Finnish and U.S. military the opportunity to train together and allows the U.S. military quick access if any conflict were to arise.

Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen called the agreement a milestone for U.S. and Finnish relations.

“We do not expect the United States to take care of the defense of Finland; we continue to invest in our defense and share the burden in our area and beyond,” Häkkänen said. “However, this agreement significantly enhances our ability to act together in all situations.”

“Responsibility for turning a zone of good-neighborliness in this region into a zone of possible confrontation lies entirely with the current Finnish authorities,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in response to the DCA.

But Finnish officials said Russia forced the country’s hand.

“We see that Russia will remain a threat to global security for the foreseeable future,” Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said.